My God, I am too Ashamed to Raise my Face to You"

Today's mass Readings

We continue with our reflection on the book of Ezra. Ezra was a descendent of the priestly tribe of Israel was born in Babylon while the people of Israel was in exile there. Priests could not exercise their religious ritual during the exile and so they dedicated themselves to studying scripture. Ezra was one of the priests who was sent to Judah to help rebuild the city of Jerusalem and the temple. Over the past two days we have drawing the connection between the sacrifices offered in the reconstructed temple and the Eucharist. We will make that connection again today. In the first reading today, Ezra becomes conscious of his human condition before he could offer the sacrifice in the new temple. His gesture is very moving. Falling on his knees, he confesses the sins of his ancestors in these words:

“My God, I am too ashamed and confounded to raise my face to you,
O my God, for our wicked deeds are heaped up above our heads
and our guilt reaches up to heaven.” (Ezra 5:6)

Why does Ezra make this confession even though he was himself not guilty of the since of those kings and priests who broke the covenant. The answer is simple. All the prophets and saints have one common trait. They are highly sensitive to both their own sinfulness and the holiness of God. That is what we human beings can best do in God’s presence – acknowledge the holiness of God and recognize our own wretchedness. Only Jesus can come into the presence of God without guilt.

And that is why at the beginning of the Eucharist, the first action of the gathered community is to acknowledge our sinfulness and confess them through the “I confess.” When we do this, our sentiments should be the same as that of Ezra – humility, true sorrow for sin, and the confidence that God is our healer. The next time we go for the Eucharist, let us be conscious of the importance of the penitential rite at the beginning of mass.

Even now, as we spend time in reflection, let us come before the Lord in the words of Psalm 13 and make this our prayer today.

Psalm Response: Blessed be God, who lives for ever.

He scourges and then has mercy;
he casts down to the depths of the nether world,
and he brings up from the great abyss.
No one can escape his hand.

R. Blessed be God, who lives for ever.

Praise him, you children of Israel, before the Gentiles,
for though he has scattered you among them,
he has shown you his greatness even there.

R. Blessed be God, who lives for ever.

So now consider what he has done for you,
and praise him with full voice.
Bless the Lord of righteousness,
and exalt the King of ages.

R. Blessed be God, who lives for ever.

In the land of my exile I praise him
and show his power and majesty to a sinful nation.

R. Blessed be God, who lives for ever.

Bless the Lord, all you his chosen ones,
and may all of you praise his majesty.
Celebrate days of gladness, and give him praise.

R. Blessed be God, who lives for ever