26th Week, Thursday, Sept 30
Nehemiah 8:1-12 / Luke 10:1-12
Ezra reads God's law to the people; The people answered, "Amen!"
A college theology professor says that when he talks about "God's law," his students usually interpret the expression in one of three ways. Some of them view God's law as a restriction to their freedom. It's something they resent having to do. Others view God's law more positively. They regard it as a guide to human growth. It's an aid to deciding what's right when they are confused about the morality of some action. Still, others view God's law in the ideal way that Jesus proposed it, as an invitation to serve. (John 15:10) It's an opportunity to love.***
How do we normally view God's law? “How I love your law, O LORD!... I have more discernment than the elders because I observe your precepts. ... Wonderful are your decrees; therefore, I observe them." Psalm 119:97, 100, 129
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In the first reading, we see how the Feast of Tabernacles, originally a harvest feast for wheat and vintage, was spiritualized into a feast remembering the exodus and the renewal of the covenant. The Word of God was read to the people. The word came as a source of great joy and stirred their hearts. Thus, it helped greatly to build up the community.
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Whenever we hear of this word "law", we may immediately have a few assumptions. We might see the law as a restriction of our freedom and an obstacle to doing what we like. Or we can see the law as giving us direction. It helps us to decide what is right and good, especially in the area of social order and morality. In the 1st reading, we heard that when the people listened to the reading from the Book of the Law, they were in tears. The Book of the Law refers to the Torah, which is the first 5 books of the Jewish scriptures, namely Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
So, the Book of the Law was not just about rules and regulations. It is also about God's love for his people and how He rescued them from slavery and danger. The people were in tears because they realized how far short they were in keeping the Law, especially in their unfaithfulness and sinfulness. Yet when we understand the Book of the Law and the Bible as a testimony of God's love for us and how He would protect and save us, then we would be willing to be sent by Jesus as labourers of His harvest.
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Yes, the harvest is rich but the labourers are few, but that is because we have yet to understand how much God loves us and that we need to witness to God's love for us to others. Indeed, the kingdom of God is very near to us. God's love is all around us. Let us labour to make known that love.
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Few people are impressed by the fact that a bishop lives a life of poverty in a big palace or that priests or sisters are sober and restrained in their personal living when they use rich and powerful means and institutions to bring God to people. Missionaries, however, dedicated and serving they may be, are not very convincing and have a hard time building community if they import powerful means from outside. When Jesus sends out his missionaries to evangelize the poor, he wants them to be, like him, poor among the poor. True, evangelical poverty is an ideal not easy to attain. But does it still move us?
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For the first exercise of evangelisation, Jesus sent only his twelve apostles. Now he sends six times as many. This was not yet the being sent into the world to make disciples. That will only start after the coming of the Holy Spirit. "Now the kingdom of God is very near" (verse 11). He is now on his way to his passion, resurrection and ascension. He wants as many people as possible to know about it. Soon enough they will come to hear of his death. So, he sent heralds (that is what his priests are), to every place he was going to visit himself. His visit must make an impression. They are going as sheep among wolves. The fight is only one-sided, unequal. The Church comes with love with the intention of doing good. Yet the Church is made use of, eaten up. That is what the wolves want. We on our part come in all simplicity without great provisions and grand fancy equipment. The success does not depend on that. It depends only on how good instruments we are in the hands of God.
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Prayer
Lord our God, you speak your word and it challenges us to give you a response. You speak your word, and it gathers together those who are willing to listen. Let it build us into a community responsive to you in loyalty and eager to follow your living Word, Jesus Christ, our Lord forever. Amen
