25th Week in OT 2019 - Tuesday - Rebuilding the Temple

Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, we hear from the book of Ezra.  Ezra tells part of the story of the Jews return to Israel after the Babylonian captivity.

For over a hundred years, the Jews were captive in Babylon, cut off from their traditions, history, rituals, stories, and temple worship.  A generation of Jews who didn’t know how God freed their people from slavery in Egypt, they grew up without the knowing the promises God made to Abraham, without the knowledge of the ten commandments or the promised land, and without the Temple, the center of their faith.  Could you imagine? No faith, no hope, no knowledge of God’s love. 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.

After the Babylonians were defeated by the Persians, the Jews were freed. Ezra, the priest, was tasked to lead the Jews back to Jerusalem. But what they found there was devastating: they found the holy city in ruins--her walls breached and knocked down, the great temple destroyed.  They wept.
A campaign was launched by Nehemiah to rebuild the temple and Ezra the priest endeavored to reeducate the people who had grown ignorant of their history, of their traditions, rituals and practices—to teach the people who they were, their identity, and the laws of the faith which enabled them to be the people God had chosen them to be.

We heard today of the completion of the building of the Temple, which took much effort and many sacrifices to complete, yet, when it was done, the people celebrated with great joy.

Over the last few generations, the Church in the west, Europe and America has seen similar devastation. Places where Catholicism flourished are now nearly devoid of our holy faith. Generations are essentially ignorant of Catholic Doctrine. Beautiful churches fall into ruin.

Rebuilding will always follow the model we find in Ezra: teaching, prayer, and sacrifice. I think, and I’d like to hope, that the younger clergy particularly, are committed to rebuilding, through the teaching and practice of the fullness of God’s Word…for watered-down Catholicism is a failure and leads to ruin...We seek to rebuild according to God's plan, not our own image of what we think the Church should be, for as Psalm 127 says, "Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain" by striving for lives of holiness in union with the Lord.

So, please pray daily for your priests and bishops, and support them by demanding the fullness of the Gospel, that will help us to seek the holiness the Lord wants for each of us, that we may all go rejoicing to the house of the Lord, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the Pope, Bishop, and clergy may work to build up the Church according to the precepts of God’s Holy Word.

For the purification of Holy Church from all error and heresy, especially among those who preach and teach.

That the fire of the Holy Spirit may be evident in all members of the Church, and in this parish community.

For mercy and peace for all those who suffer: for the sick and diseased, for those undergoing surgery this week, for the destitute and despairing, for all victims of war, violence, and abuse, and for those who will die today and the consolation of their families.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, and for N., for whom this mass is offered.

O God, who 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.