Can You Hear Me Now?

Having set aside my wonderings about the choices of lectionary creators (and there are quite a few lections, with differences among the choices) a new focus has come into view. How do I respond to being told what to do? How do I respond when someone else informs me that “God told me to tell you?” Prophets are not very popular due to this behavior. 

There is little to go on when looking around for scriptural evidence of the reactions of Zerubbabel and Joshua the priest; with two meager chapters and four messages their feelings are not part of this book of the Bible. From other books we know they did get around to the job. Was it the words they heard? Was it the promise of power and possessions? What were they doing before Haggai brought them the word of the LORD? 

We surely have a Haggai or two in our faith community. Who are the prophets among us, and what are they saying? What if there was a prophet-in-residence at St. Andrew? What if they regularly attended council meetings? What if we followed through on one of their pronouncements? If they told us to quit feathering our own nest(s) would we, could we do it? 

God, we pray that thy will would be done on earth week after week. Help us to know your will for us. In your mercy, Lord, hear our prayer. 

Victoria Owens