Let us Build a House for God!

 

25th week Monday in Ordinary Time

Year One

Meditation

Ezra 1:1-6

 In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, in order that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of King Cyrus of Persia so that he sent a herald throughout all his kingdom, and also in a written edict declared:

 “Thus says King Cyrus of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem in Judah.  Any of those among you who are of his people—may their God be with them!—are now permitted to go up to Jerusalem in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem; and let all survivors, in whatever place they reside, be assisted by the people of their place with silver and gold, with goods and with animals, besides freewill offerings for the house of God in Jerusalem.”

The heads of the families of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites—everyone whose spirit God had stirred—got ready to go up and rebuild the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. All their neighbours aided them with silver vessels, with gold, with goods, with animals, and with valuable gifts, besides all that was freely offered (Ezra 1:1-6).

Meditation

Let us Build a House for God!

The Lord announces through Jeremiah a message to the king Cyrus of Persia to build the House for the Lord. A house for the Lord to be built in Jerusalem. The House of the Lord will be a place of prayer, a place of meeting, a place of worship and a place of blessing.  A responsibility to build the House of the Lord was entrusted to the king. Such responsibility is given to each one who is in a position of responsibility to build the House of the Lord. Building the House of the Lord would mean not just building a structure for the House of God, but it will also include building up the people of God. It takes much more time, effort and patience to build the people of God. It is a mission given to some to carry on. Each one is entrusted with the mission by the Lord to build His House.

Are we willing to build the House of the Lord?

Year Two

Prov 3:27-34

The Lord is Just!

The Lord is just.  We are asked to be just. Do good to others and do not cause harm. Purposely do not trouble others. Some do test others' patience. Human beings know to do good and to do evil too. Against evil, always choose to do good. Do not give a chance for evil to act. If one is not careful, we allow evil to work. Overcome evil with good.

The Lord blesses the righteous homes. The Lord will curse the wicked. The harm is done to us by our acts of evil. We invite trouble to ourselves by our words and actions. Let our words and actions be good and God-fearing. Allow God to bless us rather than curse us for our evil actions.

Are we just to others?

Lk 8:16-18

A Lamp under a Jar!

 “No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar or puts it under a bed; rather, one puts it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light.  For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light.  So, pay attention to how you listen, for to those who have, more will be given, and from those who do not have, even what they seem to have will be taken away” (Lk 8:16-18).

The lighted lamp is put on the lampstand to give light to all. We are like light in the world. We are called to bear light in the world. What does light do?  It dispels the darkness and shows the way. As the light reveals what is hidden, the word of God tells us that all the secrets will be made known. In fact, in today’s world, there are no secrets and everything is made known to everyone with the present world of technology and communication. We have to accept that, and we are living in the world of open secrets. It is a great change in the present world. The openness of the world should not dissuade us from going away from the Eternal Truth and Message of Jesus.

How do we make use of the light and the truth in our hands?

Fr Putti Anthaiah sdb

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