We celebrate today the feast day of St. Jerome (340-420) to whom we owe the Latin translation of the Bible. Like other Church Fathers, St. Jerome left us with commentaries of the Bible. They form the traditional opinions of the interpretation of Bible passages in the Catholic Church.
Today, we touch on the Second Book of Ezra, a.k.a. Nehemiah. He was appointed provincial governor to take charge of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. He restored the city wall, repaired the gate and together with Ezra, the priest and scribe, reformed the Jewish life after the Babylonian Captivity.
The book of Nehemiah began with some bad news for Nehemiah. It happened in the capital.
Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the capital (Nehemiah 1:1b),
According to the Jewish calendar, Chislev was November 4 to December 3. Nehemiah heard some bad news about the city Jerusalem from his friends.
And they said to me, "The survivors there in the province who escaped exile are in great trouble and shame; the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire." (Nehemiah 1:3)
Nehemiah was very sad and prayed fervently to God. When the chance came, he brought the matter to the Persian king.
In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence.
And the king said to me, "Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing else but sadness of the heart." Then I was very much afraid (Nehemiah 2:1-2).
The month of Nisan was March 13-April 11. That is, the matter was raised four months later to the Persian King. Nehemiah was able to secure the support of the Persian King and the rebuilding project came to a satisfactory conclusion.
The book of Nehemiah began with some bad news for Nehemiah. It happened in the capital.
Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the capital (Nehemiah 1:1b),
According to the Jewish calendar, Chislev was November 4 to December 3. Nehemiah heard some bad news about the city Jerusalem from his friends.
And they said to me, "The survivors there in the province who escaped exile are in great trouble and shame; the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire." (Nehemiah 1:3)
Nehemiah was very sad and prayed fervently to God. When the chance came, he brought the matter to the Persian king.
In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence.
And the king said to me, "Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing else but sadness of the heart." Then I was very much afraid (Nehemiah 2:1-2).
The month of Nisan was March 13-April 11. That is, the matter was raised four months later to the Persian King. Nehemiah was able to secure the support of the Persian King and the rebuilding project came to a satisfactory conclusion.
Here, I have learned two things. Timing is not an exact science. No doubt, timing is extremely important. Nehemiah did not bring the matter to the attention of the king. He patiently waited for four more months before he sprang into action! Truly, everything has its season.
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together (Ecclesiastes 3:5a)
Secondly, God holds all the trump cards. He made use of the Gentile nations to punish Israel. Later, He made use of the Gentile nations to serve them. The Jews were blessed indeed.
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together (Ecclesiastes 3:5a)
Secondly, God holds all the trump cards. He made use of the Gentile nations to punish Israel. Later, He made use of the Gentile nations to serve them. The Jews were blessed indeed.
Dear Lord, on the eve of the National Day, I pray for my country. She is now engaging in more ambitious global roles. May she listen to and do Your will to allow the dissidents to help reform the country. You are the Lord of Lords. Glory be to You forever and ever. Amen.
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