The exiles had returned from Babylon and work had begun on rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem which been destroyed decades before. “The word of the Lord came to (Zechariah the prophet), saying, ‘The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. . . . (And) whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice.” (Zechariah 4:6)
Eternal God, maker of heaven and earth, ruler of all nations, father of our Lord Jesus Christ:
We live in a day of small things – petty, vindictive, cruel things – too often inflicted by the powerful on the powerless, by those who govern on those who are governed. The deluge washes over us and threatens to overwhelm our souls, leaving us dispirited and despairing.
Paul acknowledged that “we do not even know how to pray as we ought,” so confused are the times, but he insisted that Your Spirit intercedes for us “with sighs too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26)
It is for that Spirit, Your Spirit that we pray, the Spirit announced to Zechariah – “Not by might nor by power but by Your Spirit” – the Spirit promised by Jesus, the Paraclete who would walk alongside us in days of small and great things, the Spirit who was enfleshed most completely in Jesus himself.
Jesus who lived in such a time as this and who encouraged us to seek Your kingdom and Your righteousness — first, last, and always;
who understood that showing mercy is neither an act of weakness nor an act
of spiritual condescension but an act of solidarity, for those who show mercy need to have mercy shown to them;
whose heart went out to those who are singular in devotion and purpose,
those who have a deep passion, a hunger and a thirst, for the right, the good, and the just, and those who work for peace and pay a price for their effort;
who taught us to forgive seventy times seven and to love You with all our hearts, and minds, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves;
who did not give us a spirit of fear or despair but a spirit of confidence, hope, and courage;
who did not have an enemies list – he had a love your enemies list;
who said if we wish to serve him, we will find him in “the least of these;”
who taught us to pray for those who use and misuse us even as he asked You to forgive his executioners.
It is for that Spirit that we pray, for it is in his spirit that we genuinely want to live in this day of small things, the spirit of Jesus who, when his disciples asked him to teach them how to pray, said, “When you pray, say:”
“Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.” Amen.