Reading 1
Zec 8:1-8
This word of the LORD of hosts came:
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
I am intensely jealous for Zion,
stirred to jealous wrath for her.
Thus says the LORD:
I will return to Zion,
and I will dwell within Jerusalem;
Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city,
and the mountain of the LORD of hosts,
the holy mountain.
Thus says the LORD of hosts: Old men and old women,
each with staff in hand because of old age,
shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem.
The city shall be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets.
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
Even if this should seem impossible
in the eyes of the remnant of this people,
shall it in those days be impossible in my eyes also,
says the LORD of hosts?
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
Lo, I will rescue my people from the land of the rising sun,
and from the land of the setting sun.
I will bring them back to dwell within Jerusalem.
They shall be my people, and I will be their God,
with faithfulness and justice.
Gospel
Lk 9:46-50
An argument arose among the disciples
about which of them was the greatest.
Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child
and placed it by his side and said to them,
“Whoever receives this child in my name receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
For the one who is least among all of you
is the one who is the greatest.”
Then John said in reply,
“Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name
and we tried to prevent him
because he does not follow in our company.”
Jesus said to him,
“Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”
Meditation: Zechariah 8:1-8
Devastation. Desolation. No Temple. No altars.
No place to worship the Lord. Such was the state of Jerusalem in the second year of the reign of Darius the Mede (529 b.c.). Had God abandoned his people? Had their sin finally provoked him to give up on them and leave them to the cruelty of their captors?
No. Through the prophet Zechariah God spoke. He told Zechariah to cry out to the remnant of Jerusalem and tell them to return to him, and he would return to them. He would take pity on them and make Jerusalem his own once again. He promised that his Temple would be rebuilt, and that when other nations witnessed his work, they would all come, seeking his mercy and favor.
God had not abandoned his people. In fact, no matter how far Jerusalem had fallen, no matter how grave her sin, Yahweh would remain faithful to his covenant with them. Forgiveness, healing, peace, and security would once more cover the land, and the people would once more be exalted in his eyes.
But it would not be all one-sided. Through Zechariah, God also gave instruction and guidance to the people. They were to speak the truth to one another. They were to put away plotting against each other and swearing false oaths. They were to treat one another with the integrity and respect due to members of God’s special, chosen people.
We can take great solace from the words of Zechariah. He teaches us that there is no such thing as an unpardonable sin. Neither is there any situation or challenge that is too big for God to handle if we turn to him. Even if we have experienced our own kind of exile by ignoring the many promptings of the Spirit, God is still with us, waiting for us to seek him once more. He is right beside us, ready to pour out his healing power. God’s love truly does endure forever. Have you experienced it yet today?
“Father, you are truly a God of compassion and mercy, slow to anger and abounding in love. Do not treat us as our sins deserve. You are a merciful God, and we are your people redeemed by the blood of your beloved Son. Father, we thank you and praise you for everything you have done in our lives!”
Psalm 102:16-23,29; Luke 9:46-50
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