Links for today’s readings:
May 18 Read: Haggai 2 Listen: (3:49) Read: Luke 9 Listen: (8:05)
Scripture Focus: Haggai 2.2-9
2 “Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them, 3 ‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? 4 But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. 5 ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’
6 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty. 8 ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. 9 ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”
Reflection: Do the Work of Repair
By John Tillman
The returning exiles began to rebuild the temple but stopped to work on other things. They rebuilt their own houses instead of God’s house. Haggai challenged them to reorient their priorities. He told them their sufferings were God’s punishments for diverting from their purpose.
However, God’s word through Haggai was not harsh. He encouraged these struggling post-exile survivors. Yes, they had misplaced their priorities. However, God seemed to understand their many obstacles. They faced enemies. They lacked resources. And they were intimidated by the scale of what they had lost. Haggai asked if any of them recalled the glory of the first temple and acknowledged that their efforts so far seemed hopelessly inadequate. Like nothing at all.
Have you ever lost something so dear to you that you could barely stand to replace it? Maybe an heirloom? Maybe a house? Maybe a sentimental car, book, or item of clothing from a loved one? Losing the thing itself is bad enough. Replacing or rebuilding can remind us of the trauma of the loss.
Rebuilding or replacing beloved things is harder when you still bear the scars of that loss. How could the people replace or rebuild something so treasured as the temple David designed and Solomon built?
When a large or intimidating problem lies ahead, don’t we often find ourselves diverting to another task? Instead of doing the difficult thing, we go to the grocery store, or fold that laundry we’ve been putting off, or dive into that closet we’ve been meaning to reorganize.
God is sensitive to us in our losses and diversions. He understands when we feel intimidated and vulnerable. But when it is time to rebuild he calls us to be strong. When it is time to repair, he stands with us, holding the spiritual tools and emotional resources we need. When we mourn lost glory, he promises greater glory to come if we rebuild with him.
Rebuilding can remind us of past trauma, but rebuilding also connects us to future hopes. Countries, organizations, churches, communities, and families can face the difficulty of needing to rebuild and repair lost things.
Despair and distraction are tempting. They say, “Nothing can be fixed. Nothing can be improved.” But God stands ready to shake heaven and earth to rebuild broken things and restore hope in place of trauma. He will help us do the work of repair.
Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading
Jesus taught us, saying: “No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth to an old cloak; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and the tear gets worse. And nobody puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins too. No! New wine into fresh skins!” — Mark 2.21–22
– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle
Read more: Give Careful Thought
The grace of God gives us many freedoms in Christ. However, some “freedoms” can become a blight in our relationships.
Read more: Rebuke for Hotheads
Like James and John, we can lose sight of the greater mission and be caught up in conflict.
