Homily on the Fifth Sunday of Easter, Sunday 10 May 2020

Psalm 147 vv1-12

Zechariah 4 vv1-10

Revelation 21 vv1-14

The 75 Anniversary of VE Day brings to mind the herculean task that confronted all nations of rebuilding their countries and society after the war.

Tonight’s Psalm 147 and the reading from Zechariah have similar themes.

In the Psalm, Verse 2 ”The Lord builds up Jerusalem” is probably a reference to the construction of the walls of the city in the time of Nehemiah around 450BC. The Psalmist also in verses 10-11 contrasts the fleeting nature of military force (“He takes no pleasure in the power of the horse, no delight in human strength.”) with what does last and endure: the love and trust of his (the Lord’s) faithful servants. Those that serve him. This resonates with those us who have seen film footage this weekend of ruined cities.

The prophecy of Zechariah dates from the return to Jerusalem of the portion of the population that was exiled to Babylon. The prophecy dates from reign of Darius. The opening of the book dates from 520 BC.

The Temple lay in ruins and those who had remained in Jerusalem had been unable to organise themselves politically. What the “return” offered was the possibility of renewed, organised national identity, albeit within the limits prescribed by the Persians. Under the governorship of Zerubbabel and the tenure of High Priest Joshua, worship in the Temple would resume in 515BC. And perhaps they are the two figure depicted as the olive trees in the vision.

Zechariah is a short book and well worth reading in one sitting. It contains a number of uplifting images, some of which will be very familiar to you. I’ll share just one with you now, from Chapter 8:

“Old men and women shall sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with a staff in their hand because of their great age and the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the street.”

Today in our current situation, we look forward to when the streets will once again be full of people – tables outside cafes with people sitting in the sun. And just as worship in the Temple resumed, so we look forward to the day when we shall once again gather in our churches and praise the Lord.

As we do so, we give thanks for and are encouraged by the example of those who rebuilt our cities and society after the war.

Lock down is an opportunity to use time for prayerfully for reflection.

Can I suggest you might in your prayers reflect on these three things:

1.      How, individually, we sustain our neighbours in the current emergency

2.      When the emergency lifts, how we continue to remember those who supported our lives during this time

3.      How we can each play a meaningful role in society to better bridge the gap between Heaven and Earth at this time.

Amen