I today's first reading, Ezra 1: 1-6, the Israelites are being prepared to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple. Cyrus, king of Persia, says to the Israelites: "'[God] has charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Therefore, whoever among you belongs to any part of his people, let him go up, and may his God be with him! Let everyone who has survived [the exile] in whatever place he may have dwelt, be assisted by the people of that place with silver, gold, goods, and cattle, together with farewell offerings of the house of God in Jerusalem.'"
What marvels the Lord has done for Israel throughout their entire history to the very moment they were released from exile in Babylon. Imagine the elation of the Israelites when Cyrus king of Persia, released them to return to their holy city Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple of the Lord.
You and I, with the Israelites and the author of today's responsorial psalm, can, when things are going well for us, truly pray: "The Lord has done marvels for us." However, when darkness prevails, when we are exiled from our "homes," praising God for His marvels may be more difficult. In those moments of darkness or "exile", may you and I recognize our need for the light and for release. If, however, we experience being in the light and are comfortably, joyfully and peacefully at "home," may we have the wisdom and the courage to reach out to others in need. Let us be "Cyrus," recognizing that we have been charged to build God's Temple here on earth, that is, to further God's Kingdom of love, peace, joy and forgiveness to all those who feel "exiled" in some way.
What have I done, what have you done today, to be a light in other's darkness, to bring others to a sense of being freed from a "foreign" place.
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