Reflection/Sermon/Homily for Monday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time 25th September 2023
Reflection/Sermon/Homily for Monday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time 25th September 2023 Ezra 1:1-6. Psalm 126:1-2ab,2cd-3,4-5,6. Luke 8:16-18. We begin our first reading from the Book of Ezra. It speaks of the return of the Israelites who were in exile in Babylon to Judah. They were in exile for seventy years. Their return was the Lord's doing. God went as far as using a pagan king to rebuild the house of the Lord, saying that the Jews who were in Babylon can return to Jerusalem and rebuild the house of the Lord (cf.Ezra 1:2-3). God can use anyone to accomplish his mission. God is still staring the life of so many to consecrate their life to him, to rebuild the temple of the Lord, that is, the spiritual temple, the people of God. Jesus, in today's Gospel, compares us to a lamp on the stand. He encourages us to stand out. No one lights a lamp and puts it under the bed. We are supposed to light, dispelling the darkness of our world. We are not to hide our talents and g...