Let My Tongue be Silenced if I Ever Forget You"
Today's Mass Readings
The first reading from the book of the prophet Nehemiah is a continuation of the last week’s themes from Haggai. Nehemiah was a Jewish cupbearer for Emperor Artaxerxes (a cup bearer task was the taste the emperor’s drinks to ensure that it was not poisoned). When Nehemiah heard news about the state of Jerusalem (Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians in 587 BC and the inhabitants taken to exile to Babylon), he pleaded with the Emperor Artaxerxes to appoint him governor of Judah (Jerusalem was the capital of Judah) so that he could rebuild Jerusalem. The emperor agreed and Nehemiah proved to be an excellent governor. The point, however, today is the fact that even though Nehemiah occupied and privileged position in the emperor’s palace, he carried a burden in his heart for God’s temple and city. Today’s psalm explains this burden perfectly. Ps 137:1 says, “By the streams of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.” The people were in exile around forty years and it was possible for them to forget God. As the psalmist cries out, “May my tongue cleave to my palate, if I remember you not; If I place not Jerusalem ahead of my joy.” (Ps 137:6). People like Ezra and Nehemiah would keep the memory of the Lord alive and finally lead the people back to Judah. Their aching (burden) for Jerusalem paid off.
Like Nehemiah, a Christian on fire always carries a burden in his/her heart – a burden for God’s kingdom. This world, from the Christian perspective, is really our exile. This could mean two things. First, that we must all strive to make our world part of the Kingdom of God – a kingdom of love, peace, justice, forgiveness, righteousness, faith, fidelity and all other Christian virtues. Secondly, even as we strive for this, our real focus must be on the eternal city. In fact, that is what Jesus suggests in today’s gospel reading. “Leave the dead to bury the dead” (let the spiritually dead bury the spiritually dead) means that those who follow Jesus are meant to prepare for “eternal life” and not be bogged down with earthly concerns. Moreover, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God” (Lk 9:62). In other words, as Christians we cannot become complacent. Rather, our hearts must ache for the sake of the Kingdom, both to build it here on earth and for the eternal Kingdom of God.