All the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, ‘Amen, Amen’, lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)
After looking at different Christian denominations last week we can see that there are three things we hold in common - the contract we have made with God (at Baptism or Confirmation), the authority of scripture, and the worship of God. In today's reading we see that after their return from exile in Babylon, Nehemiah and Ezra gather the people together. They are a fragmented community riven with conflict, with disputes within and without. At times it looks as though they might not be able to finish rebuilding Jerusalem and its Temple. But Ezra reminds them that they have things in common with one another.
The morning starts at the "Water Gate" a place where all people could go, whether ritually clean or unclean, and Nehemiah invites all the people, men, women, and children who are old enough to understand the words to attend. He begins with worship. The people stand up and when Ezra blesses God for His goodness everyone assents with the words "Amen, Amen" (ie "So be it"). The scrolls holding the sacred scriptures, with their reminder of the Law and the covenant that they have made with God, are brought forward and read to the people. Finally the words they have heard are explained.
This little episode from Nehemiah should remind all us as Christians, that the worship of God is something we all do, no matter our differences, as is the reading of scripture, as is the explanation of these words in a sermon or homily. Notice how the word "all" is used seven times in today's bible reading and how at the end of the morning Nehemiah instructs food to be given to those who are poor!
Heavenly Father,
speak to us through Your holy word
found in our Bible.
Give us the light of understanding
so that we might apply what we have learnt
to our daily life.
Keep us ever questioning and ever learning
so that we may continue to grow in faith,
reaching out to others as Your people.
Amen.
You might want to refresh your memory about the book of Nehemiah, if so this might help:
Or play these old Gospel songs, with lyrics, and good visual images: