Fr. Roger J. Landry
Columbia Catholic Ministry, Notre Dame Church, Manhattan
Monday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time, Year I
September 25, 2023
Ezra 1:1-6, Ps 126, Lk 8:16-18
To listen to an audio recording of today’s homily, please click below:
The following points were attempted in the homily:
- Today we get the first of three days from the Book of Ezra, the only three days in the two-year daily lectionary. It begins three weeks of post-exilic writings in which we will have two days of Haggai, three days of Zechariah, two days of Nehemiah, two days of Baruch, three days of Jonah, one day of Malachi and two days of Joel, before we enter into a four-week examination of St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans. These post-exilic writings focus essentially on two things: first, the rebuilding of the temple and, second, the way of holiness so that there is never again an exile from God. In today’s passage from the prophet Ezra, we ponder the extraordinary decision by the non-Jewish King Cyrus not only to allow the Jews to return home from Babylon, but also to help them to rebuild the Temple of Jerusalem. Cyrus encouraged everyone, Jews and non-Jews, to participate in the rebuilding of the house of God, by giving their “silver, gold, good, cattle, … [and] free-will offerings.” We know that this Temple rebuilding project is more than just about a building. It points prophetically to Jesus’ incarnation, to the destruction of the temple of his Body and its resurrection on the third day, and on the way he wishes to rebuild each of us to become, individually and together, the temple of God, where he, Risen, dwells within.
- The simple architectural plans for the rebuilding project are found in the Gospel. Jesus’ message can be summarized by his saying, “Take care how you hear.” He wishes that we build ourselves on the rock of his word, that we bear abundant fruit from the seed of his teaching sown within us, that we faithfully receive what he generous gives with love.
- He tells us, “No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lamp stand so that those who enter may see the light.” In other words, if we’re listening correctly, we’re hearing what he seeks to implant as “words to be done.” It’s not supposed to remain hidden, private or secret, but is meant to illumine the world. If we’re not listening with this apostolic dimension, we’re not going to bear abundant fruit. We’re not going to be fully rebuilt on the rock.
- He adds, “There is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.” Jesus tells us that if we’re fighting to give our full wits to his words, even if we’re struggling, that effort, too, will one day be known. He’s also saying that if we fake as if we’re paying close attention, our going through the exterior motions will eventually be exposed.
- He then concludes, “To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away.” This is a law of physical exercise, musical growth, and intellectual progress: we use it or we lose it. To the one who gives the word both ears as well as the mind and the heart, he will become more and more fruitful; but to the one who is not really hanging on every word, he’ll lose eventually even that superficial adherence. This is what we see, unfortunately, when Christians (priests, religious or laity) “lose” their vocation by not living the truth God proclaims to them.
- The Lord seeks to accomplish this building project each day at Mass, when we take care how we hear the word of God, seek to be illumined by its light, resolve not to hide it but to let it radiate to the world, and to let it grow within us so that it may become more radiate still. From the earliest days of the Church through the pontificate of St. John Paul II until now, Christians have believed and taught, “Ecclesia de Eucaristia,” that the Church lives by the Eucharist, that the Eucharist makes the Church. It’s here that the Word of God becomes flesh in us as we receive the Word made flesh, the true Light of the World. As we prepare to hear Jesus’ words, “This is my Body” and “This is the chalice of my Blood,” and bring in the offertory not just silver, gold, goods, cattle, and free-will offerings, but all we are and have, let us ask for the grace to “take care what [we] hear,” and “do this in memory of” him.
The readings for today’s Mass were:
Reading 1 EZR 1:1-6
In the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia,
in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah,
the LORD inspired King Cyrus of Persia
to issue this proclamation throughout his kingdom,
both by word of mouth and in writing:
“Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia:
‘All the kingdoms of the earth
the LORD, the God of heaven, has given to me,
and he has also charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem,
which is in Judah.
Therefore, whoever among you belongs to any part of his people,
let him go up, and may his God be with him!
Let everyone who has survived, in whatever place he may have dwelt,
be assisted by the people of that place
with silver, gold, goods, and cattle,
together with free-will offerings
for the house of God in Jerusalem.’”
Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin
and the priests and Levites–
everyone, that is, whom God had inspired to do so–
prepared to go up to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.
All their neighbors gave them help in every way,
with silver, gold, goods, and cattle,
and with many precious gifts
besides all their free-will offerings.
Responsorial Psalm PS 126:1B-2AB, 2CD-3, 4-5, 6
R. (3) The Lord has done marvels for us.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done marvels for us.
Then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed.
R. The Lord has done marvels for us.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done marvels for us.
Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves.
R. The Lord has done marvels for us.
Alleluia MT 5:16
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Let your light shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel LK 8:16-18
Jesus said to the crowd:
“No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel
or sets it under a bed;
rather, he places it on a lampstand
so that those who enter may see the light.
For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible,
and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.
Take care, then, how you hear.
To anyone who has, more will be given,
and from the one who has not,
even what he seems to have will be taken away.”
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