Eza’s Prayer!

 

25th week Wednesday in Ordinary Time

Year One

Ezra 9:5-9

Eza’s Prayer!

At the evening sacrifice I got up from my fasting, with my garments and my mantle torn, and fell on my knees, spread out my hands to the Lord my God,  and said, “O my God, I am too ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens.  From the days of our ancestors to this day we have been deep in guilt, and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been handed over to the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to utter shame, as is now the case.  But now for a brief moment favor has been shown by the Lord our God, who has left us a remnant, and given us a stake in his holy place, in order that he may brighten our eyes and grant us a little sustenance in our slavery. For we are slaves; yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, but has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to give us new life to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judea and Jerusalem.

Meditation

One of the things that causes people problems in life is guilt. Guilt is game one place. Guilt is deeply rooted in society, family and among persons. In guilt, one feels sorry and bad for the evil one has done. He wants to overcome and seek forgiveness. If one does this, it is alright, but the guilty people keep on thinking about the evil they have done and entertain the idea of remorse and guilt, and lead a negative life. They do not allow themselves to overcome evil or forgive themselves. It is like looking forward and backwards and never taking a step forward. One’s prayer, fasting and good deeds allow one to overcome and go forward with God's trust in the mercy of God. The Lord is merciful. The mercy of God is made perfect in the sacrificial death of Jesus on Mount Calvary. Let us hope and pray in the mercy of God and overcome every form of slavery from guilt.

What steps do you to take to overcome guilt?

Fr Putti Anthaiah sdb

Year Two

Wednesday

Prov 30:5-9

The Word of God is flawless!

The Word of God is flawless. God and His Word will keep everyone well if they keep it. It will shield them. God’s Word is written down to us. Everyone is fortunate to have the Word of God. One should take repose in reading the scriptures and feel the protection and assurance of His Word.

The following prayer and wish of the human person is worth remembering and praying. “Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.  Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonour the name of my God” (Prov 30:8-9).

What do we seek every day of our lives?

Mt 9:9-13

 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax-collection station, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him (Mt 9:9).

The disciple Mathew must have been very happy to do his work of collecting tax. The presence of money in life is a blessing and an assurance of life. He could get anything for himself because he has money. We can buy anything with money, and it gives security. Those who deal with money are sure, confident and content. They may not spend it or give it to others, and in fact, they know that money will not make them live forever.  Probably St Mathew might have realized the uselessness of money with regard to eternal life. He might have been captivated by the person of Jesus. At the invitation of Jesus,” Follow me”, he followed him.

Do we like to leave our false securities and follow Jesus, who gives us eternal security?

Our Lady of Ransom

Fr Putti Anthaiah sdb