The first reading for today's Eucharist comes to us from the prophet Zechariah. Though the book of this prophet seems to bear the imprint of more than one writer, it can probably be safely said that it was written during the exile or Babylonian captivity.
The reading today speaks of the centrality of Jerusalem and the restoration of that city that God has in mind. The reading ends with an important statement: They will be my people, and I will be their God, in faithfulness and justice. (Zechariah 8:8b)
We have heard this statement before. In the earliest pages of the Scriptures, it is expressed conditionally. "If" you will be my people, "then" I will be your God. Zechariah, however, is one of the prophets who proclaims this truth without making it conditional.
What makes this somewhat remarkable is the fact that the statement is made in the context of the exile, a period of time during which the Israelites think of as punishment for the fact that they have strayed from the covenant, the very covenant when this statement was first made "conditionally." Despite the fact that it seems as if God is punishing the people for their lack of fidelity to the covenant, the prophet delivers the Word of God which states emphatically that God will not abandon them, that God will not be tempted to withdraw from the covenant relationship. Though there is only a remnant left in the streets of Jerusalem, God will be faithful to the promise to be their God.
This particular passage speaks volumes to people who are demoralized with their present situation or with the situation of society in general. God has not given up on us. We should not give up on God.