In yesterday’s first reading we read that King Cyrus of Persia has freed the Israelites from captivity in Babylon, allowing them to return to Jerusalem along with all the sacred items taken from the Temple in Jerusalem some 40 years prior. Their instructions were to rebuild the Temple and worship God in their tradition.
In today’s first reading, it is now 22 years later, Darius is King of Persia, the year is 516 BC, and finally at long last the Temple has been rebuilt and divine worship restored to the people in accord with the commands of God as described in the Books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers. “The children of Israel–priests, Levites, and the other returned exiles– celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.” (Ezra 6:16)
Think of today’s responsorial psalm:
Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord. I rejoiced because they said to me, “We will go up to the house of the LORD.” And now we have set foot within your gates, O Jerusalem. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I can imagine the great joy of that day. These are the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the original exiles – perhaps the youngest of those exiles lives to see this day 71 years after Jerusalem fell. The stories recalled of right worship and praise of God in the Holy City in the Holy Temple – in the Holy of Holies with God again dwelling among them. What was lost has been restored by the mercy of God.
It makes me think of the last time I went rejoicing to the house of the Lord for Mass. Ezra and Nehemiah will later complain about worship becoming routine – which has its place for sure! But at the cost of joy?
Let us be mindful of what God has done for us in Christ. May we worship well, praising God in this sanctuary, with Jesus here in the Eucharist, bring the Holy of Holies to us.
Note: The first readings for the beginning of this week are taken from the Book of Ezra – a book that might not be familiar to you. Here is “the big picture”: The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah
Image credit: Immortals from the frieze of Archers from Susa, ca. 510 BC, via The Louvre, Paris; with Chromolithograph of Darius I, 1810, via World History Archive | PD-US