Does it seem nothing to you? But take courage now!

I have a soft spot for the underdog. And so does God! The Bible holds a great
collection of stories and narratives of ‘underdog peoples’. God is the greatest
advocate for the underdog. He wants them all in His kingdom. For those of us who
feel the same: if we were to watch a Muay Thai match, or my favorite Bruce Lee
fight scenes, we may find ourselves in passionate and agitated cheering – “Come on!
Go for it! You can do it!” The same I found myself rooting for the widowed and
shamed William Wallace as he fought the English in the movie Braveheart.

God is rooting for His people to get their act together and buck up in our first
reading. He knows tenderly that those who had witnessed the former splendour of the
Temple are now dejected by its state of ruins. Yet He reminds them that He’s got
their back.

“How does it look to you now? Does it seem nothing to you? But take courage now –
it is the Lord who speaks… To work! I am with you – and My spirit remains among
you. Do not be afraid!” (Haggai 2:3-4)

If we are standing in the midst of a ruined state of affairs, be it in a loss of a

relationship, a loss for life’s direction, a loss of job and financial security, a
dissolving marriage, family dissension… God is telling us that the ruins we see are
not all there is to His story. Never doubt Him, but take courage – even if for now,
it seems absolutely hopeless to you.

To work! He is with you. This work could be a call for us to work at the ruins, or
to go at work within our own selves. However, we will need to stay close to our
Loving Jesus to pray and discern our course of action. Though there are many things
beyond our control, faithful prayer is the most necessary and fruitful form of work
in any situation we face!

He promises us this, “The new glory of this Temple is going to surpass the old, and
in this place I will give peace.” No doubt, says Jesus in the Gospel reading today,
“The Son of Man will be raised up on the third day.” The promises of our God are
like the slow-moving, but steadfast plow of the meandering river carving through
the lower plains. He is always with you, so take heart. No good thing does He
withhold from those whose walk is blameless.