Thursday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 458

Then Nehemiah, that is, His Excellency, and Ezra the priest-scribe and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all the people:
“Today is holy to the LORD your God.
Do not be sad, and do not weep”–
for all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.
He said further: “Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks, and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared; for today is holy to our LORD.
Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the LORD must be your strength!”

 

I heard a Jewish rabbi explain an informal call to worship, “They tried to kill us. We survived. Let’s eat.”

When the children of Jerusalem’s refugees returned to Judah and their ruined city, after they had rebuilt enough of the homes and buildings to provide a modicum of normality, the Persian Governor Nehemiah and the high priest Ezra called them together and encouraged them to celebrate a feast of Thanksgiving, “The Lord is good. He has brought us home.”

We can well imagine their breaking into tears. The original refugees of Jerusalem, their grandparents, were long dead. They had heard stories, treasured the songs and recited the prayers of the holy city. They knew the histories of Abraham, Moses and David. They honored the heartache of their ancestors to return to a home they had never seen.

Now, at last, they were back. But the city was a wreck. All that really survived was their faith. Hearing the familiar words of the Law in this ancient, unfamiliar homeland, they were overwhelmed with sorrow, relief and joy.

The destruction of Jerusalem, the exile and diaspora of the Jews are the crucifixion account of the Old Testament. Continually, throughout the centuries, they have experienced a kind of resurrection. It has not been like that of Jesus; it is more like a return to life and struggle and hope after an episode of overwhelming horror. The “holocaust” of the Nazi regime was the worst but not the only experience of such massive suffering. It has happened repeatedly. And yet they survive.

God does not abandon his people. He continues to call them to worship and they gather again and again to worship him. 

Christians should understand this story for we face our own periodic catastrophes. Recently I heard a young friar complain savagely about our community. He is hugely disappointed with us. He does not see how such a pathetic, dispirited, uninspiring group of old men can dare to hope for the future. He is acutely aware, as we all are, of the scandalous behavior of a small group – but far too many! – of priests.

“Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the LORD must be your strength!”

 “They tried to kill us. We survived. Let’s eat.”