In this passage, we hear the prophet Habakkuk addressing God and then God replying to Habakkuk. The prophet has been waiting for God to bring justice and by this point has not yet seen it happen. It must have been quite a wait because we hear him say, “O Lord, how long shall I cry for help and you will not listen?” (Hab. 1:2, NRSV).

Next, God answers, “...for there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come and will not delay.” (Hab. 2:3, NRSV) We often pray for God to help us, and when help is not immediate, we think that God did not hear or answer. God may be saying that we should be patient, like a parent whose child wants a drink of water and keeps asking even though the parent is busy. We must stay vigilant.

Called by Name (Luke 19:1–10)

In this passage, we hear the story of Jesus and Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus is a tax collector and does not have a very good reputation in the community. He just wants to get a look at this man that everyone is talking about. He must be surprised when Jesus not only calls to him (and by name) but also asks to come to his house to eat with him. We all like to be recognized, and when someone of some fame calls to us by name, we are even more proud.

God does call each of us by name and knows even more about us than we know about ourselves. We should all be proud to be a friend of our Lord and know that He wants to come and spend time with each and every one of us.