"A small bag with holes in it"

And whoever earned wages
earned them for a bag with holes in it.

These words of prophecy from today’s first reading (Haggai 1:1-8) resonate painfully and bitterly well for many in the wake of the economic and financial troubles of the past year.

Thus says the LORD of hosts:
Consider your ways!

As bad as things may be, God invites us to consider our ways: not just to consider what we have done (and what we have failed to do), but what to do in the present and in the future – focusing our energies on the things that are truly important.