Wake Up, Take Courage--Dec. 14, 2019

Lord God, you sweep the years away,

like grass that flourishes in the morning

and in the evening fades and withers.

Even big buildings made of stones

eventually are thrown down

and become like nothing.

To all this you say,

“Wake up, take courage,

strengthen what remains;

work to make it perfect

in my sight.”

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 90; 149; 80; 72

Hag. 2:1-9

Rev. 3:1-6

Matt. 24:1-14

Selected Verses

Ps. 90:5-6

You sweep [the years] away; they are like a dream,
          like grass that is renewed in the morning;
in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
          in the evening it fades and withers.

Hag. 2:3-4a

Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory?  How does it look to you now?  Is it not in your sight as nothing?  Yet now take courage…  [God speaking through the prophet, to the governor, high priest, and the people]

Rev. 3:2

“…Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death, for I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God.  …”  [He who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars, to the church in Sardis]

Matt. 24:2

Then [Jesus] asked [his disciples], “You see all these [buildings of the temple], do you not?  Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”