A Mission of Hope: Ezra and the remnant of God’s people who returned from exile to Jerusalem to rebuild were people of hope, in the midst of disappointment. They had been exiled for a lifetime, and they returned to ruins. They were called to rebuild not only the temple, but their very faith. The apostles, sent out on mission, were also called to rebuild faith. Are we called to this mission today?
Hope Springs from Poverty
Ezra and his remnant had no choice but to come poor. It seems to me that there is poverty, especially a poverty of spirit, implied in hope. There is at least the need to let go of something in order to hope for something you do not possess. Ezra and the remnant of Israel had to let go of what they knew living in exile in order to go to a land they had only heard about from their parents and grandparents. They had to hope that the stories they had heard had some truth to them. When they arrived, they had to hope that they could restore the ruins to something they had never seen but only heard about.
The apostles were instructed to come poor: “take nothing for the journey “. (Luke 9) They had to hope that their needs would be provided for by generous people. They had to hope that their message would be heard and received with joy. They had to hope that what Jesus told them would be fulfilled.
Poverty of Spirit
Hope seems to spring from poverty, but not just material poverty. Practicing poverty of spirit brings goodness and hope out of poverty, not just material poverty but the poverty of our limitations. Both Ezra and the remnant of Israel, and Jesus with his apostles, were on a mission of bringing Hope. What about me in my life? Am I called to rebuild? Am I called to go out and give testimony? Where do I experience poverty of spirit and how can it lead me to hope?
