Ezra’s Mission: Restoring Faith in God’s People

Today, we reflect on the life and mission of Ezra. Ezra was both a priest and a scribe, called by God to lead His people after the exile. His mission was not only about rebuilding the Temple but about restoring the faith and identity of God’s people. This mission can be seen in three dimensions:

Restoration of the Law – placing God’s Word at the centre of life.

Call to Holiness – leading the people away from compromise and sin.

Communal Renewal – strengthening worship and unity among the people.

In Ezra 1:1–6, we see the beginning of this mission. God stirs the heart of King Cyrus to let the exiles return home and rebuild His house in Jerusalem. This reminds us that God is faithful and can even move kings and nations to fulfil His will.

Renewal begins when hearts are stirred by God’s Spirit.

The Gospel (Luke 8:16–18) builds on this with the image of the lamp. Truth and love are not meant to be hidden but placed on a stand to give light. Just as Ezra restored the light of God’s Word among the people, so we are called to let God’s truth shine in us.

Love gives that truth its power—without love, truth can become harsh; without truth, love can become empty. Together they make our witness fruitful.

Friends, God calls us, like Ezra, to be builders: restoring faith through the Word, choosing holiness and working for unity. And like the lamp, we must let the truth of Christ shine through love, so that others may see and be drawn to Him.

Amen.