Thoughts for the Day

After these things had been done, the officials approached me and said, ‘The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands with their abominations, from the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons. Thus the holy seed has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands, and in this faithlessness the officials and leaders have led the way.’ When I heard this, I tore my garment and my mantle, and pulled hair from my head and beard, and sat appalled....

At the evening sacrifice I got up from my fasting, with my garments and my mantle torn, and fell on my knees, spread out my hands to the Lord my God, and said, ‘O my God, I am too ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens.....

‘And now, our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken your commandments, which you commanded by your servants the prophets..... shall we break your commandments again and intermarry with the peoples who practise these abominations? Would you not be angry with us until you destroy us without remnant or survivor? O Lord, God of Israel, you are just, but we have escaped as a remnant, as is now the case. Here we are before you in our guilt, though no one can face you because of this.

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

This passage from Ezra seems very alien to us today, but Ezra has led a holy mission from Babylon, he has put his faith in God that He wants to restore His people, and though the journey has been long and hard they have arrived safely. But the land is populated by numerous peoples all worshipping their own gods and carrying out abominable customs. Ezra is appalled to learn that the leaders are among the first to give their daughters as wives to pagans. It is not in itself the major problem, but rather the fact that soon their would be no area left untouched by pagan association. It would permeate all areas of business and social life, as had already happened in the past with those who lived in the area following the fall of Samaria when the Assyrians resettled the area.

After a time of grief Ezra kneels before God, hands outstretched in supplication, but head bowed. He knows that all he can do is confess the people's guilt, there is nothing he can say in defence. Israel can only rely on God's mercy.

Today, our clergy also offer confession on their own behalf and on that of their people. I remember a very godly Bishop of Worcester would beat his breast three times with a closed fist, saying "Mea culpa" (meaning my fault) when he felt he had made a mistake. Catholic priests also observe this in the Mass, while Jews beat their breast during the most solemn time of repentance at Yom Kippur. All of us can make no defence for our continual sin, all we can do is ask God's mercy.

Father of all
Holy and Most Mighty,
we bring to You our confession this day
of all those sins we have committed:
those we ignore;
those we forget;
those we make casually;
those we deem unimportant;
and those we make deliberately;
We ask Your forgiveness,
though we are unworthy,
through our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Amen.