1ST READING
Many
exiles receive permission to return home and they take it up with both
apprehension and joy. Joy because they are returning to their homeland,
and apprehension because they realize there will be a lot of hard work
to restore their lives and livelihood to its former state of prosperity.
It is good for us to reflect on the struggles and trials of others so
that we do not get deceived that the life of faith is an easy path to
walk.
Ezra 6:7-8, 12, 14-20
7 King Darius issued an order to the officials of West-of-Eupharates: “Let the governor and the elders of the Jews continue to work on that house of God; they are to rebuild it on its former site. 8 I also issue this decree concerning your dealing with these elders of the Jews in the rebuilding of that house of God: From the royal revenue, the taxes of West-of-Euphrates, let these men be repaid for their
expenses, in full and without delay. 12 I, Darius, have issued this decree; let it be carefully executed. 14 The elders of the Jews continued to make progress in the building, supported by the message
of the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, son of Iddo. They finished the
building according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus and Darius and of Artaxerxes, king of Persia. 15 They completed this house on the third day of the month
Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. 16 The children of Israel — priests, Levites, and the other returned exiles—celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. 17 For the dedication of this house of God, they offered one hundred bulls, two
hundred rams, and four hundred lambs, together with twelve he-goats as a
sin-offering for all Israel, in keeping with the number of the tribes
of Israel. 18 Finally, they set up the priests in their classes and the
Levites in their divisions for the service of God in Jerusalem, as is prescribed in the book of Moses. 19 The exiles kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. 20 The
Levites, every one of whom had purified himself for the occasion,
sacrificed the Passover for the rest of the exiles, for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.
P S A L M
Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5
R: Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
1 I rejoiced because they said to me, “We will go up to the house of the Lord.” 2 And now we have set foot within your gates, O Jerusalem. (R) 3 Jerusalem, built as a city with compact unity. 4 To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord. (R) According to the decree for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord. 5
In it are set up judgment seats, seats for the house of David. (R)
GOSPEL
Jesus
wants us to know, without a shadow of a doubt, that discipleship or
following God’s will for our lives, is the only way to His heart — into
the gift of eternal life. Too many people think association with
holiness will be enough to save them — it will not. We have to be holy
as God is holy. We need to live the call to holiness, not just know
someone who is living it.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.
Luke 8:19-21
19 The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. 20 He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.” 21 He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”
think: We need to live the call to holiness, not just know someone who is living it.
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: __________________
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God’s special verse/thought for me today_
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Ezekiel 25-28
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