2“The Lord was very angry with your ancestors. 3Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty. 4Do not be like your ancestors, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices.’ But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the Lord. 5Where are your ancestors now? And the prophets, do they live forever? 6But did not my words and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, overtake your ancestors?
“Then they repented and said, ‘The Lord Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve, just as he determined to do.’ ” (Zechariah 1)
Thoughts: One of the greatest ways to listen to God, is to come back to Him. When we return to God, God returns to us. If we want God to listen to us, we must also listen to Him. Zechariah reminds the people of the consequences of not listening to God and going our own way without God. The people responded to Zechariah and broke with the ways of their ancestors who were punished. We are called to listen to the One who made us and gives us instructions on how we should live and what we should believe.
Prayer: Lord, help me ot go your way and not my way. Give me grace to return to you and find you waiting for me as the Prodigal Son's Father was waiting.
(Michelangelo's Zechariah in the Sistine Chapel)
The work had stopped on the Temple until Zechariah and Haggai encouraged them to build again.
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