Hg 2:1-9 / Lk 9:18-22
As we’ve heard in the Old Testament readings this week, the process of persuading the Israelites to return to their homeland and to rebuild the temple was a long one. They’d gotten comfortable where they were and they were afraid of the human costs of starting over, even when it meant going home.
"Take courage," the Lord says to them, and then he reminds them of the pact he made when he brought them out of Egypt hundreds of years before. The pact was that he’d remain with them always, no matter what they did. No matter how corrupt they became, he’d be there with them, calling them back, and offering them forgiveness.
That’s why rebuilding the temple was so important: It made that pact with God visible and tangible. It said to them, "Yes, God still dwells in our midst, still loves us, and still is faithful to his promises."
It was hard for the Israelites to remember that, and it’s often hard for us to remember too. That’s one of the reasons why it’s so important for us to step away from our ordinary paths and gather around the Lord with the rest of his people every Sunday.
We need to remember who we are and who it is that walks with us every day, whether we’re paying attention or not, and whether we’re walking a noble path or not. We need to remember and to give thanks that God is faithful, even when we are not. We need to remember how to say, "I’m sorry," and "I need your help," and "Teach me how to love better."
God is always ready to hear those words from us, if only we remember how to speak them. Come to church with us, and remember.
