Day 255 - Saturday after the 15th Sunday after Pentecost

Read |  Day 255 | Saturday | September 12

Zechariah 6: 1-8, 9-15
Ezra 5: 3-17
Ezra 6: 1-14a
Zechariah 7: 1-14
Zechariah 8: 1-23

Background | Chabad.org| The story of Ezra the Scribe takes us back about 23

Ezra from Guillaume Rouillé'sPromptuarii Iconum Insigniorum -
Wikipedia

centuries, to the time when the Jews had returned from the Babylonian exile, had rebuilt the Beth Hamikdosh, and had begun to live a free life on their own native soil. In the year 3408, the construction of the Second Beth Hamikdosh in Jerusalem was under way. Jerusalem again became the center of Jewish life. But the era of the prophets was about to end. Hagai, Zechariah and Malachi were the last of the prophets. There were no more prophets after them, though there never ceased to appear men of wisdom and vision in Israel who were leaders and sages, and inspired their brethren with the spirit of the Torah and of the prophets.

One of the first of these great men who followed on the very heels of the last prophets was Ezra the Scribe. He was born in Babylon, like many of the other great leaders, patriots and sages which the Jewish community in exile had produced. By profession he was a scribe; he used to write scrolls of the Torah, which he knew so well. Ezra was also a priest, a member of the priestly family of Aaron. He was a great scholar and teacher, and all his qualities combined to make him an outstanding figure not merely among his brethren, but also in the court of Artachshashta.  More ... Click here

Dates| ~ 430 BC

Reading | Zechariah - 4 chariots - 4 spirits of heaven, crowning of Joshua son of Jozadak, question to king by governor about the rebuilding of the Temple, king approves rebuilding, call for justice, promised blessings, This is what the LORD Almighty says: “In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’

Source | Tyndale | The One Year Chronological Bible NIV | ISBN 978-1-4143-5993-9 | kindle edition

Next |  Day 256 | Sunday | September 13 

Zechariah 9: 1-8, 9-17 
Zechariah 10: 1– 11: 3 
Zechariah 11: 4-17
Zechariah 12: 1-14 
Zechariah 13: 1-6, 7-9 
Zechariah 14: 1-21 

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For Our Enemies

O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth; deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For Social Justice

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source | Daily Office in English | Mission St Clare | Click here

We pray for the dead who were victims of war, terrorism, random shootings, murder, starvation, old age, and untreated illness. Bless them in Paradise, and may their families go on beyond mourning and live life to the fullest in memory of their love ones with joy. Amen.