Tuesday 4th June

Reflecting on the ninth Sunday in ordinary time, part 2

Where we have come from (readings for Sunday Jun 2):

1 Kings 8:22-23, 41-43

Psalm 96:1-9

Galatians 1:1-12

Luke 7:1-10

Readings for today:

Psalm 5

Nehemiah 1:1-11 

Acts 3:1-10 

Brief thoughts for today:

At first sight our reading from Nehemiah might seem to contradict the theme of the last few days. After all, here is Nehemiah feeling called to back to Jerusalem where the rebuilding of the walls will go someway to restoring Israelite identity.  Nehemiah is part of the community in exile in Babylon. SInce that community has been there for 70 years he was almost certainly born in Babylon making him a second generation migrant. Although he retains an affiliation to and love of the 'homeland' he is also committed to the society he and his family have become part of, after all he is cupbearer to the King! Many migrants feel this tension all over the world, made more complicated when the individual's parents each came from a different country to the one where the family is now living. In chapter two it is clear that Artexerxes understands and is sensitive to these tensions and picks up that Nehemiah is anxious about the city of his ancestors, he even sends him back to Jerusalem - but on the understanding that he will come back again.  It looks like Nehemiah would not have passed Norman Tebbit's cricket test - but then Artexerxes would not have tried to impose it!

Revised Common Lectionary copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts. Used by permission.