The Word Among Us: A Catholic Devotional based on the Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Meditation: Ezra 6:7 Let the work of this house of God alone. Let the governor of the Judeans and the leaders of the Judeans rebuild this house of God on its site.
8 “Moreover, I herewith issue this order concerning how you are to assist these leaders of the Judeans in rebuilding this house of God: the expenses of these men are to be defrayed promptly from the royal funds, from the taxes collected beyond the River, so that the work can continue.
12 May the God who has caused his name to be there overthrow any king or people that tries to defy it and destroy this house of God in Yerushalayim.
“I, Daryavesh, have issued this order. Let it be carried out to the letter.”
14 The leaders of the Judeans made good progress with the rebuilding, thanks to the prophesying of Hagai the prophet and Z’kharyah the son of ‘Iddo. They kept building until they were finished, in keeping with the command of the God of Isra’el and in accordance with the order of Koresh, Daryavesh and Artach’shashta king of Persia. 15 This house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of Daryavesh the king. 16 The people of Isra’el, the cohanim, the L’vi’im and the other people from the exile joyfully dedicated this house of God. 17 At the dedication of this house of God they offered 100 young bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and, as a sin offering for all Isra’el, twelve male goats, corresponding to the number of the tribes of Isra’el.
18 Then they installed the cohanim in their divisions and the L’vi’im in their orders for the service of God in Yerushalayim, as written in the book of Moshe.
19 The people from the exile kept Pesach on the fourteenth day of the first month. 20 For the cohanim and L’vi’im had purified themselves together; all of them were pure. So they slaughtered the Pesach lambs for all the people from the exile and for their kinsmen the cohanim and for themselves.
25th Week in Ordinary Time
The children of Israel … celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. (Ezra 6:16)
This wasn’t a typical housewarming party, mainly because it wasn’t a typical home! After decades in exile, a dramatic return to their homeland, and years of hard work, the Israelites finished rebuilding the house of God—the Temple in Jerusalem. Finally, they had a place to worship the Lord again!
To celebrate this accomplishment, the people gathered to honor and welcome the Homeowner into his new residence. With joyful hearts, they dedicated the Temple to him with songs and worship and sacrifices the likes of which they had not seen in years.
What about you? Whether you live in a spacious residence, a tiny apartment, a monastic cell, or even a prison cell, your home can be a place where God can dwell. If you welcome him as Lord of your home, he can fill it with a spirit of joy, freedom, and dignity that befits a true temple of the Lord. So have you dedicated your home to the Lord recently?
One way to do this dedication is by inviting a priest to come and bless your home. Ask him to pray with you and to sprinkle holy water on your home, consecrating it to the Lord. Of course, it’s a good idea to get in the habit of, every day, saying a prayer of blessing and dedication for your home and those who live within it. In the Lord’s authority, you can cleanse your environment of evil spiritual influences and welcome the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Going a little further, another idea is to consecrate your home to God with a celebration. Get creative; involve other people. You could have a special meal prepared, Scripture readings, or a little ceremony where you walk through the perimeter of your home, praying as you go. Everyone in your home could even have a role in dedicating a favorite room or area to the Lord.
Of course, the specifics of how you do this are up to you. What really matters is that you dedicate your home to the Lord and invite him to come dwell with you.
“As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Amen!
Psalm 122:(0) A song of ascents. By David:
(1) I was glad when they said to me,
“The house of Adonai! Let’s go!”
2 Our feet were already standing
at your gates, Yerushalayim.
3 Yerushalayim, built as a city
fostering friendship and unity.
4 The tribes have gone up there, the tribes of Adonai,
as a witness to Isra’el,
to give thanks to the name of Adonai.
5 For there the thrones of justice were set up,
the thrones of the house of David.
Luke 8:19 Then Yeshua’s mother and brothers came to see him, but they couldn’t get near him because of the crowd. 20 It was reported to him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and want to see you.” 21 But he gave them this answer: “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s message and act on it!”
___________________________
8 “Moreover, I herewith issue this order concerning how you are to assist these leaders of the Judeans in rebuilding this house of God: the expenses of these men are to be defrayed promptly from the royal funds, from the taxes collected beyond the River, so that the work can continue.
12 May the God who has caused his name to be there overthrow any king or people that tries to defy it and destroy this house of God in Yerushalayim.
“I, Daryavesh, have issued this order. Let it be carried out to the letter.”
14 The leaders of the Judeans made good progress with the rebuilding, thanks to the prophesying of Hagai the prophet and Z’kharyah the son of ‘Iddo. They kept building until they were finished, in keeping with the command of the God of Isra’el and in accordance with the order of Koresh, Daryavesh and Artach’shashta king of Persia. 15 This house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of Daryavesh the king. 16 The people of Isra’el, the cohanim, the L’vi’im and the other people from the exile joyfully dedicated this house of God. 17 At the dedication of this house of God they offered 100 young bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and, as a sin offering for all Isra’el, twelve male goats, corresponding to the number of the tribes of Isra’el.
18 Then they installed the cohanim in their divisions and the L’vi’im in their orders for the service of God in Yerushalayim, as written in the book of Moshe.
19 The people from the exile kept Pesach on the fourteenth day of the first month. 20 For the cohanim and L’vi’im had purified themselves together; all of them were pure. So they slaughtered the Pesach lambs for all the people from the exile and for their kinsmen the cohanim and for themselves.
25th Week in Ordinary Time
The children of Israel … celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. (Ezra 6:16)
This wasn’t a typical housewarming party, mainly because it wasn’t a typical home! After decades in exile, a dramatic return to their homeland, and years of hard work, the Israelites finished rebuilding the house of God—the Temple in Jerusalem. Finally, they had a place to worship the Lord again!
To celebrate this accomplishment, the people gathered to honor and welcome the Homeowner into his new residence. With joyful hearts, they dedicated the Temple to him with songs and worship and sacrifices the likes of which they had not seen in years.
What about you? Whether you live in a spacious residence, a tiny apartment, a monastic cell, or even a prison cell, your home can be a place where God can dwell. If you welcome him as Lord of your home, he can fill it with a spirit of joy, freedom, and dignity that befits a true temple of the Lord. So have you dedicated your home to the Lord recently?
One way to do this dedication is by inviting a priest to come and bless your home. Ask him to pray with you and to sprinkle holy water on your home, consecrating it to the Lord. Of course, it’s a good idea to get in the habit of, every day, saying a prayer of blessing and dedication for your home and those who live within it. In the Lord’s authority, you can cleanse your environment of evil spiritual influences and welcome the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Going a little further, another idea is to consecrate your home to God with a celebration. Get creative; involve other people. You could have a special meal prepared, Scripture readings, or a little ceremony where you walk through the perimeter of your home, praying as you go. Everyone in your home could even have a role in dedicating a favorite room or area to the Lord.
Of course, the specifics of how you do this are up to you. What really matters is that you dedicate your home to the Lord and invite him to come dwell with you.
“As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Amen!
Psalm 122:(0) A song of ascents. By David:
(1) I was glad when they said to me,
“The house of Adonai! Let’s go!”
2 Our feet were already standing
at your gates, Yerushalayim.
3 Yerushalayim, built as a city
fostering friendship and unity.
4 The tribes have gone up there, the tribes of Adonai,
as a witness to Isra’el,
to give thanks to the name of Adonai.
5 For there the thrones of justice were set up,
the thrones of the house of David.
Luke 8:19 Then Yeshua’s mother and brothers came to see him, but they couldn’t get near him because of the crowd. 20 It was reported to him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and want to see you.” 21 But he gave them this answer: “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s message and act on it!”
___________________________
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