Yesterday we heard about Cyrus today we hear how the next King Darius went even further:
I also issue this decree concerning your dealing with these elders of the Jews in the rebuilding of that house of God:
From the royal revenue, the taxes of West-of-Euphrates,
let these men be repaid for their expenses, in full and without delay.
Hard for us to imagine in our present world, but it happened once and this kind of peaceful co-existence can happen again. Even more now that we have the grace of the Holy Spirit.
The gospel today reminds us that while professions of faith are important,
My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.
Peace is possible and it really is above all not the act of a government but of individuals. It starts in the hearts of each of us.
