Readings for November 7 2010

The portrayal of Jerusalem's temple is one of inspirational beauty, which the faithful exiles returned to Jerusalem in hopes of rebuilding. When they lost sight of the temple, the prophets used that memory of great beauty to call them back to God's keeping.

Take a moment to pray as you begin this study:

O God, may we be firm in our faith with you. Bless us with a love that keeps us at all times and in every circumstance. Guide us in the way of Jesus and transform us in the Word of Life, we pray, Amen

READ Haggai 1:15b-2:9

Haggai is not the most popular prophet for us today, he appears rarely in our schedule of readings, and his prophecies seem restricted to a particular time and place. How do we make his words relevent today?

By the decree of the Persian emperor Cyrus (who defeated the Babylonians), the Israelites returned to Jerusalem to re-build the temple under the political leadership of Nehemiah, and the religious leadership of Ezra. But the rebuilding of the temple was delayed by various conflicts between the people of the northern and southern kingdoms. After 18 years "home", only the foundation had been laid!

Haggai and Zechariah were 2 prophets who kept at the people to get going and finish the temple. Psalms 145-148 are ascribed to these prophets, who are chronologically the “last” of the Hebrew prophets (from the Christian perspective) until the next prophetic voice which is John the Baptist.

Earlier in the prophecy Haggai criticized the people for building themselves fine, paneled homes, while God resided in poverty. He threatened them with financial failure and drought if they are not faithful in giving God a worthy place in their rebuilt lives. In verse 2, note that Haggai's message is delivered on 3 levels – to Zerubbabel (political); to Joshua (spiritual) and to the people (social.) Haggai uses a rhetorical question in verse 3 - it would have been about 66 years! But the former beauty of the temple was legendary. We can share in the message of verse 4 "Take courage!" and ”I am with you”. In verse 5 the prophet reminds the people of their history with YHWH - verse 6-9 is a new vision of the promised land, that “land of milk and honey” only it is a temple restored to its former glory. In this way Haggai believed that Jeremiah's promise would be fulfilled (Jeremiah 29:14;30:3 31:23) and the stolen treasures returned to their rightful place.

Question for Reflection: We often quote “Without a vision, the people perish.” (Proverbs 29:18 – wording from the KJV – more contemporary versions are different.) What vision jump-starts your enthusiasm for ministry?

READ 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 13-17

“Second Paul” – most scholars suggest that it was not Paul writing 2 Thessalonians, though the letter was attributed to him. It expresses some non-Pauline views: ie. God’s love is for believers only; God wreaks eternal vengeance against “enemies”; Christ's victory is Second Coming, not resurrection; that Second Coming is future, not imminent.

It is likely the author was writing to keep his readers from straying from core Christian beliefs, by recalling Paul's teachings and creating a harsh boundary between those who follow faithfully, versus those who follow false teachings.

He paints a pretty colourful picture of those outside salvation, and those "sanctified" by true belief.

Question for Reflection: Do we have to believe we are ultimately right (and others wrong) in order to have hope?

READ Luke 20:27-38

The Sadducees, high priests and temple authorities, did not believe in resurrection. They read only the Torah as authoritative scripture. The Pharisees, who taught in the synagogue, also saw the Psalms and prophets as holy scripture and believed in resurrection. Luke portrays Jesus as being the fulfilment of the best hope of the Pharisees.

In the passage the Sadducees try to trap Jesus by proposing a ridiculous situation concerning resurrection. But Jesus tells them they are the ones being ridiculous if they think God's realm will follow their rules! In God's realm, a widow doesn't need a husband to be valued. God's realm is full of living beings like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, just as Moses said.

Question for Reflection: Jesus affirmed that the continuity between this life and any understanding of afterlife is God and God's love. When we understand that God's love transforms us in God's realm, how does that shape your understanding of life, in all its dimensions?

We close with a peace poem by the Muslim Inayat Khan, founder of the Sufi Order of the West:

Send Thy peace, O Lord, which is perfect and everlasting, that our souls may radiate peace. Send Thy peace, O Lord, that we may think, act and speak, harmoniously. Send Thy peace, O Lord, that we may be contented and thankful for Thy bountiful gifts. Send Thy peace, O Lord, that amidst our worldly strife we may enjoy Thy bliss. Send Thy peace, O Lord, that we may endure all, tolerate all in the thought of Thy grace and mercy. Send Thy peace, O lord, that our lives may become a divine vision, and in Thy light all darkness may vanish. Send Thy peace, O Lord, our Father and Mother, that we Thy children on earth may all unite in one family.