Time flies by, even when we were at a point where things took a drastic turn and life as we knew it looked awfully bleak! We must have thought to ourselves how long more do we have to endure this O Lord? Will things ever return to normal again? Why have you abandoned us? How have we wronged You? Not all of us had turned our backs on You!
Have we already forgotten what had happened when Covid hit us? We could not even worship together as One, neither had we access to the Sacraments which kept us grounded in Him! What about our lives! What about our livelihoods! What about the ones we lost!
Now that we are in the ‘New Normal’ are we giving thanks and praise that the Lord has heard our prayers and answered! Did we take the time to reflect on what had happened, how perhaps we took things or even our Lord for granted. Are we now working harder to grow in our faith and relationship with our Lord who never stopped loving us? Who was always present to us in those challenging times we faced. Are we doing anything to bring all those who have lost their way? Back to the way, the truth and the life; to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who is the source of all life, peace, love and joy.
Lord, I listen to Your Word, I hear Your voice. Let the way I live my life be a testimony to You O Lord, as I lead by brethren back to You. Amen
Saints Cosmas and Damian, pray for us…
________
First reading
Ezra 6:7-8,12,14-20
Darius king of Persia pays for the rebuilding of the Temple of God
King Darius wrote to the satrap of Transeuphrates and his colleagues: ‘Leave the high commissioner of Judah and the elders of the Jews to work on this Temple of God; they are to rebuild this Temple of God on its ancient site. This, I decree, is how you must assist the elders of the Jews in the reconstruction of this Temple of God: the expenses of these people are to be paid, promptly and without fail, from the royal revenue – that is, from the tribute of Transeuphrates. May the God who causes his name to live there overthrow any king or people who dares to defy this and destroy the Temple of God in Jerusalem! I, Darius, have issued this decree. Let it be obeyed to the letter!’
The elders of the Jews prospered with their building, inspired by Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo. They finished the building in accordance with the order of the God of Israel and the order of Cyrus and of Darius. This Temple was finished on the twenty-third day of the month of Adar; it was the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. The Israelites – the priests, the Levites and the remainder of the exiles – joyfully dedicated this Temple of God; for the dedication of this Temple of God they offered one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs and, as a sacrifice for sin for the whole of Israel, twelve he-goats, corresponding to the number of the tribes of Israel. Then they installed the priests according to their orders in the service of the Temple of God in Jerusalem, as is written in the Book of Moses.
The exiles celebrated the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. The Levites, as one man, had purified themselves; all were pure, so they sacrificed the passover for all the exiles, for their brothers the priests and for themselves.
________
Gospel
Luke 8:19-21
‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God’
The mother and the brothers of Jesus came looking for him, but they could not get to him because of the crowd. He was told, ‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside and want to see you.’ But he said in answer, ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and put it into practice.’
CatholicJules.net 