Thoughts for the Day

The word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath. Thus says the Lord: I will return to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts shall be called the holy mountain. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of their great age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Even though it seems impossible to the remnant of this people in these days, should it also seem impossible to me, says the Lord of hosts? Thus says the Lord of hosts: I will save my people from the east country and from the west country; and I will bring them to live in Jerusalem. They shall be my people and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Watching the queues at the lying-in of state of Queen Elizabeth II recently, I was impressed at how long people were waiting to get into Westminster Hall. Some had waited 15 or more hours, and even with tickets to allow them to get food etc, much of the time was spent stationary or moving very slowly. It made me realise how difficult this might be for many because of their age whether young or old. For those with arthritis for instance, the pain of standing on pavements would be dreadful.

So what must have it been like for those Jews settled in Babylon, to be asked to undertake a four month journey through hostile territory to return to Jerusalem? Zechariah paints a picture of what the future will be like if they will only take the risk and travel - old men and women will sit talking in the streets and children will play around them.

Some of his promises were partly fulfilled in the peaceful time before the coming of the Romans, and were further advanced by the arrival of Jesus, and then by the coming of the Holy Spirit that energised the Christian church. But Zechariah's promises have still to come to completion, which is why we use this passage at Christmas. We still look forward to a time when God's Kingdom will flourish throughout the world, when we will be His people and He will be our God.

Heavenly Father,
You call us to journey
toward the Heavenly Jerusalem,
and to continue learning as christians.
May we look for the good
in all that we encounter,
but not become entangled
with the snares of evil.
Keep us safe from temptations
and ever watchful for Your guidance.
Amen.