The Old Testament Books of Ezra and Nehemiah detail the 50-year period after the Babylonian Captivity. For over a hundred years, Jews lived and worked in Babylon, cut off from their traditions, their history, their rituals, their stories, and their worship. A generation of Jews grew up without knowing about God freeing their people from slavery in Egypt, they grew up without knowing the promises God made to Abraham, without the knowledge of the ten commandments or the promised land. They grew up only knowing the gods and practices of Babylon-- a culture which practiced child sacrifice, polygamy, and other behaviors condemned by Jewish law.
Imagine if your children or grandchildren knew nothing about their family histories, knew nothing about their heritage, in fact, they had adopted practices which were exactly the opposite of the truths of their faith. In a way, not knowing their history, not knowing their faith, you would say, that they did not know themselves.
The Old testament reading today details the turning point in this sad chapter. In October 539 BC, so this time of year, two thousand, five hundred, fifty-some years ago, the Persian King Cyrus defeated the Babylonians. A year later King Cyrus decrees that he will allow the captive Jews to return to their homeland. What inspired the King to make this allowance? We heard today…”The LORD inspired King Cyrus of Persia” Cyrus even decrees that the Jews should be assisted in rebuilding the house of God—the Temple—in Jerusalem.
There is certainly a powerful spiritual analogue to this story of captivity and return. In our sin and ignorance, we are held captive, separated from God and the ways of the saving faith. Some Catholics fall away from the faith, some struggle to be free from very serious sins or addictions, for what seems like a hundred years. But, like Cyrus inspired by God, we receive the grace to break free from our sin, our addiction, our captivity, the fallen away Catholic comes home, the Christian struggling with sin is liberated.
But that gift of liberation and return, is given by God for a purpose. The returning exiles were tasked with rebuilding the Temple and recommitting to the works of God’s Holy Law. So, too Christians, freed from sin are tasked with offering right and beautiful worship to God, and must commit ever more fervently to the works of Christian Law, the works of mercy. We are freed from sin, that we may engage in the life of God, the life of mercy, to build up the New Temple of God, the Church, built with living stones.
As we heard in the Gospel, we are given the light of faith, not that it may be hidden under a bushel, but that it may be shared for the good of all, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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For the Holy Father, Francis, our Pope, that he may be aided by the Holy Spirit in leading those captive to sin home to right relationship to God through Holy Church. We pray to the Lord.
That all Christians tasked with the spread of the light of the Gospel, may be faithful to that same Gospel in every dimension of their lives. We pray to the Lord.
For all those who have fallen away from the Church, those whose lives are darkened by sin, for the conversion of all unbelievers and those who have fallen into error, and the conversion of all hearts.
For Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of September: “That our parishes, animated by a missionary spirit, may be places where faith is communicated and charity is seen.”
That the love of Christ, the divine physician, may bring healing to the sick and comfort to all the suffering.
For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased priests and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.
O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.
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