Ezra 3: A Great Shout
Friday, November 1, 2019
I love this story of a joyful people who realize that they have been saved from the teeth of death. They fully know that their God loves them despite their collective and individual transgressions, and they also recognize that they have another opportunity to begin anew. We can all use this message from time to time.
The people in today’s story are still close to the bitterness of their exile experience and they have not allowed time to dim or re-write their reality. They have not yet given in to the temptation to morph memories into events which did not happen. They are still being honest with themselves.
St. Paul writes to the Colossians (3:12-14) and to us to remind us of how we are to live in our new life after our own exile and return. He tells us what we yearn to know: How are we to be when we come into God’s presence? How are we to wear Christ as a garment into a society which is focused on the things of the world? Paul says simply: Put on, then, as God’s chosen, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection.
The people in today’s reading are chosen and loved by God. We today are also chosen and loved. We so often seek perfection in our actions and words. We try to avoid error in order to steer clear of pain. We return from our exile times and wonder how to begin again.
Today we read about a great shout of joy and weeping that goes up from the returned. We might want to add our own tears and voices to the chorus.
Written on September 25, 2009 and posted today as a Favorite.
To read more about Ezra click on the image above or go to: http://www.bibletutor.com/level1/program/start/people/ezra.htm
The Noontimes 