Ezra 9:5-9 / Luke 9:1-6
It is necessary as well as important to understand things in context. Whatever is written or said has to be understood in the whole context in order to get the better picture and meaning.
And when we don't understand the context or situation, then we might end up having the wrong opinions or getting frustrated and just get simply puzzled.
If we had thought about the 1st reading, we might wonder why Ezra, the priest and the scribe, was recounting how God had been merciful to His people and freeing them from exile and helping them to build the Temple.
And even before he said all that, he was like just out of some kind of stupor and his garments and cloak were torn.
In fact, only yesterday we heard how the people completed building the Temple and dedicated it with rejoicing and celebration.
But following that the people began to slack and backslide and they began marrying foreign wives and that slowly led them away from God and turn to idols again.
Ezra was recounting the mercies of God so as to plead again for God's forgiveness for the sins of his people.
Ezra was following the biblical tradition of remembering the wonders the Lord has done for His people so as to have the confidence to beg for mercy and forgiveness.
And that was what Jesus came to do. He gave the Twelve power and authority over devils and to cure diseases and to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.
The essential message here is that God had forgiven in the past and He will always forgive. We only have to repent and be healed. Even if it means over and over again.