Episode 465 - Rebuilding our lives after they are torn

<p><a href="https://bible.usccb.org/bible/nehemiah/8?1">Neh 8:1-4a, 5-6, 7b-12</a></p> <p>The whole people gathered as one in the open space before the Water Gate,<br> and they called upon Ezra the scribe<br> to bring forth the book of the law of Moses<br> which the LORD prescribed for Israel.<br> On the first day of the seventh month, therefore,<br> Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly,<br> which consisted of men, women,<br> and those children old enough to understand.<br> Standing at one end of the open place that was before the Water Gate,<br> he read out of the book from daybreak until midday,<br> in the presence of the men, the women,<br> and those children old enough to understand;<br> and all the people listened attentively to the book of the law.<br> Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform<br> that had been made for the occasion.<br> He opened the scroll&nbsp;<br> so that all the people might see it<br> (for he was standing higher up than any of the people);<br> and, as he opened it, all the people rose.<br> Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God,<br> and all the people, their hands raised high, answered,&nbsp;<br> “Amen, amen!”<br> Then they bowed down and prostrated themselves before the LORD,<br> their faces to the ground.<br> As the people remained in their places,<br> Ezra read plainly from the book of the law of God,<br> interpreting it so that all could understand what was read.<br> Then Nehemiah, that is, His Excellency, and Ezra the priest-scribe<br> and the Levites who were instructing the people<br> said to all the people:<br> “Today is holy to the LORD your God.<br> Do not be sad, and do not weep”–<br> for all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.<br> He said further: &nbsp;“Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks,<br> and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared;<br> for today is holy to our LORD.<br> Do not be saddened this day,<br> for rejoicing in the LORD must be your strength!”<br> And the Levites quieted all the people, saying,<br> “Hush,