The Glory Yet to Come

Jubilee Preaching Aid for November 9, 2025

This text from the prophet Haggai is given in the context of Israel’s return from exile. When the Israelites arrived, what they discovered was not what they remembered. The temple lay in ruins, the economy was fragile, and the excitement of coming home had faded into discouragement. It is into this scene of despair that the prophet Haggai speaks a word of hope:

“But now be strong, Zerubbabel,” declares the Lord. “Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, and work. For I am with you,” declares the Lord Almighty. “This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.”

The Israelites are being called, not to look back to what once was, but forward to what might yet be. Even amid the ruins, God is doing something new. The prophet goes on to promise:

“The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house… and in this place I will grant peace.”

God’s promise is not about restoring the past but transforming the future — a future built on courage, faith, and shared work toward justice and peace.

On this Sunday, as we look ahead to Remembrance Day, we remember the countless lives lost in war, both civilian and military, and the courage of those who served. We remember the longing for peace that still echoes through generations. But remembering also calls us to recognize other forms of suffering — the quieter wars of poverty, debt, hunger, and ecological destruction that continue to be inflicted on our world.

In 2025, Christians and partners around the globe are marking what has been named a “Jubilee Year of Hope.” The biblical idea of Jubilee, from Leviticus 25, sees a time when debts are forgiven, land is restored, and communities and creation are renewed. It’s a vision of release and restoration — a chance to begin again in justice and peace.

This Jubilee theme resonates deeply in a world still shaped by colonial legacies and economic inequality. Nations in the Global South remain weighed down by debts accumulated through unfair financial systems, exploitative trade, or resource extraction that enriched others while leaving their people and environments depleted. The earth itself, overworked and polluted, groans under what some call “ecological debt” — the unpaid costs of centuries of colonialism, resource extraction, emissions, and exploitation.

Yet the spirit of Jubilee is stirring. Across faiths and movements, people are calling for a new beginning — for systems that value people and planet over profit. One example is the “Jubilee 2025: Turn Debt into Hope” campaign, a global effort supported by churches, faith organizations, and advocacy groups around the world. Building on the legacy of Jubilee 2000, this movement is calling for the cancellation of unjust debts, fairer economic structures, and commitments to ecological renewal.

It is only one of many initiatives reminding us that our faith is not meant to be passive and apathetic. God’s call through Haggai — “Be strong … and work, for I am with you” — still echoes in those who advocate for debt justice, decolonization, and climate action today. Jubilee calls on governments and financial institutions to act and demands that we as communities of faith live out God’s promise of restoration in practical ways: through advocacy, sustainable living, generosity, and care for creation.

Through Haggai, God affirms that the Spirit continues to dwell among us. Even when the world appears to be fractured — whether by war, ecological crisis, or economic inequality — God’s work of renewal continues. The “latter glory” that God promises is not about wealth or splendor, but about the peace that comes when communities rebuild together in faith and fairness.

As we remember the price of world conflict, may we also remember God’s deeper call: to be makers of peace, workers for justice, and keepers of creation. In every act of fairness, in every movement toward release and renewal, the temple of God’s presence is rebuilt among us.

Prayer: God of justice and mercy, as we remember the sorrows of war and the burdens of injustice, help us to live into your Jubilee vision — where debts are forgiven, the land rests, and all creation finds peace. Strengthen us through your Word and Spirit to rebuild with courage and hope. Amen.

Rev. Marianne Emig Carr is a minister in the Presbyterian Church in Canada (PCC), serving the two-point Brockville-Caintown Pastoral Charge in Eastern Ontario. Prior to becoming a minister, Marianne was a corporate lawyer for 19 years at General Motors of Canada. Marianne serves on the Steering Committee of KAIROS, is a member of the PCC Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Committee and has been actively involved in refugee sponsorship efforts.