＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Ezra 9: 5-9

 I remained seated and dismayed until the evening sacrifice;

and then, at the time for the evening offering, I rose from my fasting, and with my clothes and mantle torn, I knelt down, spreading out my hands to Yahweh, my God.  I said, “My God! I am ashamed and confused, my God, I do not dare raise my eyes to you for our sins have increased over our heads and our crimes reach up to the heavens.

 From the days of our ancestors to this day, our guilt has been great. We, our kings and priests have been given into the hands of foreign kings because of our crimes; we have been delivered to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and put to shame as on this day.   However, for a brief moment, the mercy of Yahweh, our God, has been shown to us.

He made a remnant of our people survive, and allowed the survivor to settle once again in his Holy Place; he has given us joy and life, though we are in bondage.  We are no more than slaves, but in the midst of our slavery, God has not abandoned us, he has extended a merciful hand over us to support us before the kings of Persia. He has revived our life, enabled us to rebuild the House of our God, and to have walls in Jerusalem and in the other cities of Judah.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Luke 9: 1-6

Then Jesus called his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to drive out all evil spirits and to heal diseases.   And he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.   He instructed them, “Don’t take anything for the journey, neither staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor  money; and don’t even take a spare tunic.

 Whatever house you enter, remain there until you leave that place.   And wherever they don’t welcome you, leave the town and shake the dust from your feet: it will be as a testimony against them.”

So they set out and went through the villages, proclaiming the good news and healing peo­ple everywhere.

 

Reflection gospel：

“DON’T TAKE ANYTHING FOR THE JOURNEY.”

  A suitcase company has for its trademark
“Travel Lite”, found on its suitcases. The company simply wants to convey that using its suitcases we can travel (very) lightly, while having plenty of stuff in side and without having to pull hard. Indeed, the suitcases-with their four wheels and very light material, but durable-are reliable and can help travelling overseas more comfortable.

Our journey through life can also be light with all its ups and downs, with all its burden and difficulties. We can still Travel Lite in our daily life, enjoying and living life to the full. To Travel Lite could mean being critically aware of the things that are necessary and essential.

It means discarding the things that do not contribute to our general well-being and good. It means being able to go through life in a relaxed, calm manner. It means being able to forgive others-and also our selves.

To Travel Lite means to let go of resentments, chronic frustrations, mistakes and failures, rising above them. It means travelling with Jesus who said: “My yoke is easy and my burden light.” With Jesus, we can Travel Lite.