They Will Be MY People And I Shall Be Their GOD

"The word of YAHWEH, the GOD of hosts was directed to me in this way, 'I AM intensely jealous for Zion, stirred by a burning anger for her sake.  YAHWEH says: I will return to Zion and live in her midst.  Jerusalem shall be called the city of faithfulness and the mountain of holiness.'

YAHWEH, GOD of hosts speaks, 'Old men and women will again sit in the squares, each with a stick in hand on account of their great age.  The squares of the city will be filled with girls and boys playing.'

YAHWEH, GOD of hosts declares, 'If that seems impossible in the eyes of those who have returned from exile, will it be impossible for ME as well?'--word of YAHWEH.

YAHWEH , GOD of hosts says, 'See, I AM going to save MY people, bringing them from the east and from the west; and they will live in JERUSALEM.  They will be MY people and I shall be their GOD, in truth and in justice.'" - Zechariah 8:1-8 

(GOD expresses all HIS love for the chosen people who are personified in their city, JERUSALEM.  HE promises prosperity and the happiness of salvation.  Above all, HE brings them to discover their role in the world:  to be a point for gathering all the people.

For us these are words of hope, but they also require us to behave in such a way that unbelievers may really become aware that GOD is present in us.  We can apply what was said about Isaiah 65 here: we must guide our countries toward this peace, full of rejoicing that only GOD can bring about.

They will be MY people and I shall be their GOD.  This is the typical messianic promise and the sign of the new Covenant.)

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Live In Faith And Love, With Endurance And Gentleness

"But you, man of GOD, shun all this.  Strive to be holy and godly.  Live in faith and love, with endurance and gentleness.  Fight the good fight of faith and win everlasting life, to which you were called, when you made the good profession of faith, in the presence of so many witnesses.

Now, in the presence of GOD, who gives life to all things, and of JESUS CHRIST, who expressed before Pontius Pilate the authentic profession of faith: preserve the revealed message to all.  Keep yourself pure and blameless, until the glorious coming of CHRIST JESUS, our LORD, who GOD will bring about at the proper time; HE, the magnificent sovereign, King of kings and Lord of lords.  To HIM, alone, immortal, who lives in unapproachable light, and whom no one has ever seen or can see, to HIM, be honor and power, for ever and ever.  Amen!" - 1 Timothy 6:11-16 

(The pastors of the Church should be the most aware of the danger.  Salvation for them will be to place themselves in the less secure areas of life and society, where an act of faith is constantly necessary to overcome difficulties and joyously accept sacrifices.  It is not in seeking first of all our personal fulfillment that we become GOD's agent and a witness of CHRIST, as HE HIMSELF has been the witness of the FATHER.

Paul calls upon Timothy to avoid all those dangers and remain true to faith and free from greed.  By doing so, he will be "a man of GOD," a witness of CHRIST.)

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The Son Of Man Will Be Betrayed Into The Hands Of Men.

"And all who saw it were astonished at GOD's wonderful work.

But while all were amazed at everything JESUS did, HE said to HIS disciples, 'Listen, and remember what I tell you now: The Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of men.'  But the disciples didn't understand this saying; something prevented them from grasping what HE meant, and they were afraid to ask HIM about it." - Luke 9:43-45 

(Time is running out of JESUS.  HE now dedicates HIMSELF chiefly to preparing the group of apostles who will have the tremendous responsibility of continuing HIS work.  They did not understand about HIS death and resurrection: these things cannot be understood until they have happened.  They prefer not to question or know; leaving JESUS very isolated.)

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The Glory Of the New Temple

"On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, of the second year of the reign of Darius, this word of YAHWEH was sent through the prophet Haggai, 'Give this message to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, and to Joshua, the high priest, and to all the people:

Is there left among you one of those who saw this house long ago, in the time of its glory?  What do they think, of what they see now?  Is it not a very little thing?  But I say to you, Zerubbabel, Joshua and MY people: do not be discouraged.  Begin to work, for I AM with you, says YAHWEH.  Do not be afraid, for MY spirit is in your midst.

Thus says YAHWEH of hosts, within a short while, I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the continents.  Then I will shake all the nations; and bring in the treasures of the whole world.  I will fill this house with glory, says YAHWEH.  I will have as much silver and gold as I wish.  The renown of this temple will be greater than before, and in this place I will give peace,' says YAHWEH of hosts." - Haggai 2:1-9 

(With utter frankness, Haggai points out how modest was the work they have achieved.  It was better that way, since they did not build the temple for the sake of the temple to be proud of it; but rather, to show that they had surrendered to YAHWEH.

Do not be afraid, for MY spirit is in your midst.  We already pointed out that Spirit achieves union.  Here the prophet emphasizes that Spirit removes our fears.

I will fill this house with glory: the very poverty of the temple invites GOD to hasten the time of HIS visitation, to fill it with HIS glory.  In a short time, YAHWEH will end this transitory world, in which the Jews are living, and will establish HIS kingdom.)

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The Helmet Of Salvation And The Sword Of The Spirit

"Alleluia!

Sing to YAHWEH a new song,

sing HIS praise in the assembly of HIS saints.

Let Israel rejoice in his MAKER;

let the people of Zion glory in the King!

Let them dance in praise of HIS name;

and make music for HIM with harp and timbrel.

For YAHWEH delights in HIS people;

HE crowns the lowly with victory.

The saints will exult in triumph;

even at night, on their couches,

let the praise of GOD be on their lips;

and in their hands, two-edged swords;

to wreak vengeance on the nations,

and punishment on the peoples;

to bind their kings in chains,

and their nobles in iron fetters;

to execute on them, the written sentence:

this is the glory of all HIS saints.  Alleluia!

- Psalm 149:1-9

(We join in the song of victory, the triumph of GOD, the crushing of the serpent's head; for we have our part in the victorious struggle, wearing the armor of salvation and the sword of the spirit.

The 'loyal ones' express their devotion in a rigorous way.  They oppose the unjust violent person, with a just violent person.  They execute the sentence dictated by GOD and that is their honor.  Their religious enthusiasm and their faith in GOD the Creator is valid for us because the Gospel asks of us not to respond to violence with the violence of the sword [Matthew 26:52-54].  Our battle must be 'against the spirits and supernatural forces of evil' [Ephesians 6:12].  Evil and sin in our world are an affront to our Creator; the pain of the humble is the pain of the LORD.  We pray with this psalm, in union with all those who are hungry and thirsty for justice.  They are blessed.)

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The Mission

"Then JESUS called HIS Twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to drive out all evil spirits and to heal diseases.  And HE sent them to proclaim the kingdom of GOD and to heal the sick.  HE instructed them, 'Don't take anything for the journey, neither staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and don't even take a spare tunic.  Whatever house you enter, remain there until you leave that place.  And wherever they don't welcome you, leave the town and shake the dust from your feet: it will be as a testimony against them.'" - Luke 9:1-6 

(JESUS has begun HIS mission, HE forms and sends out missionaries.

Apostles mean "sent" and "mission" also means "being sent."  The FATHER has sent HIS Son to earth, and the Son, in turn, sends HIS apostles.  The FATHER sends messengers of HIS word, but HE also sends HIS Spirit to touch the hearts and minds of those who listen.  Through the Spirit they recognize the word of GOD in the poor preaching of these messengers who have received no great instruction.  The Spirit will give signs: healings and astounding graces supporting the witness of the missionaries.)

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Jerusalem, Elected Home Of GOD

"I rejoiced with those who said to ME,

'Let us go to the house of YAHWEH!'

And now we have set foot

within your gates, O Jerusalem!

Jerusalem, just like a city,

where everything falls into place!

There, the tribes go up,

the tribes of YAHWEH, the assembly of Israel,

to give thanks to YAHWEH's name.

There stand the courts of justice,

the offices of the house of David."

- Psalm 122:1-5

(Joy of the pilgrim who reaches his goal at last--Jerusalem, elected home of GOD, venerable in the tradition of Israel.  Here is a deep sense of homecoming and of pride in that home.  We of the world-wide 'Israel of GOD' have no city to house us all; we are 'of the household of the faith' [Galatians 6:10].  But we have the brothers and sisters whom JESUS promised to those in HIS company [Mark 9:30]; we have a home which we call 'the Church.'  It stands scarred with years of siege but, by GOD's grace, compact and dignified by the marks of resistance.  We may take pride in it because the strength of its walls is from GOD.  It will never have peace from without; let us pray and work for its peace within, which is 'the love of brethren.')

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Song Of The Returned Exiles

"When YAHWEH brought the exiles back to Zion,

we were like those moving in a dream.

Then, our mouths were filled with laughter,

and our tongues with songs of joy.

Among the nations it was said,

'YAHWEH has done great things for them.'

YAHWEH had done great things for us,

and we were glad indeed.

Bring back our exiles, O YAHWEH,

like fresh streams in the desert.

Those who sow in tears 

will reap with songs and shouts of joy.

They went forth weeping, 

bearing the seeds for sowing,

they will come home with joyful shouts,

bringing their harvested sheaves."

- Psalm 126:1-6

(Israel's drought will turn to fertility.  Her own labor of sowing will achieve its harvest.  'The field is the world' [Matthew 13:38] and the field whitens for a harvest of souls gathered to eternal life [John 4:35ff; Matthew 13:30].  But the sowing is in tears: 'Unless the seed falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone' [John 12:24ff].  The seed is the Word--the Word made flesh and crucified.  The tears are HIS, the joys ours: 'YAHWEH has done great things for us!'  And yet we, too, have our crucifixion.  If we want to turn suffering into hope, tears into songs, we can pray with this psalm.)

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We Should Pray For Rulers

"First of all, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for everyone, for rulers of states, and all in authority, that we may enjoy a quiet and peaceful life, in godliness and respect.  This is good and pleases GOD.  For HE wants all to be saved, and come to the knowledge of truth.  As there is one GOD, there is one mediator between GOD and humankind, CHRIST JESUS, HIMSELF human, who gave HIS life for the redemption of all.  This is the testimony, given in its proper time, and of this, GOD has made me apostle and herald.  I am not lying, I am telling the truth: HE made me teacher of the nations regarding faith and truth.

I want the men, in every place, to lift pure hands, in prayer, to heaven, without anger and dissension." - 1 Timothy 2:1-8 

(I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made.  Paul wants Christians to be in solidarity with their compatriots, loyal toward their nation and praying for them.  In spite of its sins and superstitions, the pagan world was religious.  Religion accompanied their every action.  This explains why, some years later, Christians were persecuted as rebels and traitors because they did not worship the emperor, nor his gods.  Perhaps this insistence on prayer for rulers is due to the fact that the paragraph was written when there already was some suspicion about Christians: it was necessary to remove these suspicions.

Faithfulness to CHRIST does not prevent loyalty to the nation unless the nation becomes an idol, and this happens when, in the name of the nation, people are asked to obey its rulers blindly.  We cannot give up criticizing their errors, nor stop considering as our brothers and sisters those who do not agree with us.

We should pray for rulers. Does that mean that we cannot look for more honest and better rulers?  Of course, we can: see Romans 13.)

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The Splendor Of Heaven Gives Us A Glimpse Of The Glory Of GOD

"The heavens declare the glory of GOD;

the firmament proclaims the work of HIS hands.

Day talks it over with day;

night hands on the knowledge to night.

No speech, no words, no voice is heard--

but the call goes on, throughout the universe,

the message is felt to the ends of the earth."

- Psalm 19:2-5

(The splendor of heaven gives us a glimpse of the glory of GOD.  We are also aware of HIS presence, when we meditate on HIS commandments, which are light and joy for the soul.

Romans 10:18 applies verse 4 of the psalm to the preaching of the Gospel.  This psalm is adequate to revise one's life in the presence of GOD in creation and in the Law.  JESUS in the Gospels has taught us how to pray.  If we add this psalm to our morning prayer, it will make us feel great and ready to start the day well.)

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