Why they wept

All the people were weeping
as they heard the words of the law

Thus we hear in today’s first reading (Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10).

Why did they weep? One reason may be that as they heard the words of the law, they realized how far they had strayed from the ways of God.

Likewise, there may be times in our lives when we may realize how far WE have strayed from the ways of God.

We must have sorrow for our sins, yet we must not despair nor should we wallow endlessly.

We must seek forgiveness from God, by His grace, with the firm purpose of amending our lives, by His grace, and move on to do the work and live the life on this earth that God wants us to do, by His grace.

As we do that, rejoicing in the Lord will be our strength.