Day 254 - Friday after the 15th Sunday after Pentecost

Read |  Day 254 | Friday |September 11 

Haggai 1: 15b– 2: 9
Zechariah 1: 1-6
Haggai 2: 10-19
Ezra 5: 2
Haggai 2: 20-23
Zechariah 1: 7-17, 18-21
Zechariah 2: 1-5, 6-13
Zechariah 3: 1-10
Zechariah 4: 1-14
Zechariah 5: 1-4, 5-11 

Background | Biblica.com | Like Jeremiah (1:1) and Ezekiel (1:3), Zechariah was not only a prophet (1:1) but also a member of a priestly family. He was born in Babylonia and was among those who returned to Judah in 538/537 b.c. under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua (his grandfather Iddo is named among the returnees in Ne 12:4). At a later time, when Joiakim was high priest (see note on Ne 12:12–21), Zechariah apparently succeeded Iddo (1:1,7) as head of that priestly family (Ne 12:10–16). Since the grandson succeeded the grandfather, it has been suggested that the father (Berekiah, 1:1,7) died at an early age.

Zechariah was a contemporary of Haggai (Ezr 5:1; 6:14) but continued his ministry long after him (compare 1:1 and 7:1 with Hag 1:1; see also Ne 12:1–16). His young age (see 2:4 and note) in the early period of his ministry makes it possible that he ministered even into the reign of Artaxerxes I (465–424 b.c.). More - click here

Dates| 536 BC

Reading | Haggai - rejoice for God is with you, you will be blessed, the Temple continues to be built; Zechariah - angel says exiles will return and be blessed, several more visions of the coming of the exiles back into relationship with God.

Next |  Day 255 | Saturday | September 12

Zechariah 6: 1-8, 9-15
Ezra 5: 3-17
Ezra 6: 1-14a
Zechariah 7: 1-14
Zechariah 8: 1-23

+++

For Our Enemies

O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth; deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For Social Justice

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source | Daily Office in English | Mission St Clare | Click here

We pray for the dead who were victims of war, terrorism, random shootings, murder, starvation, old age, and untreated illness. Bless them in Paradise, and may their families go on beyond mourning and live life to the fullest in memory of their love ones with joy. Amen.