Episode 3316: Book of Bible - Zechariah

The Book of Zechariah
ZEHK-uh-rye-uh
Before we get started I want to let you know the book of Zechariah has 14 Chapters and so we will break it down into 5 separate episodes with different themes as follows:
Part 1: Return to Me (Ch. 1–2)
Theme 2: The Branch and the Spirit (Ch. 3–4)
Theme 3: Judgment and Purification (Ch. 5–6)
Theme 4: True Worship and the City of Truth (Ch. 7–8)
Theme 5: The King, the Shepherd, the Pierced One (Ch. 9–14)
Series arc: Zechariah (14 chapters) blends consolation and correction after the exile: “Return to Me,” rebuild the Temple, await the Messiah. The book is strikingly Christological Palm Sunday (9:9), the thirty pieces of silver (11:12–13), and “they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced” (12:10)—and it culminates in God’s final kingship.
Episode Map
• Part 1 — Return to Me (1:1–6) & Night Visions I–III (1:7–2:13)
Repentance, divine oversight of the nations, and God’s promise to dwell in the midst of His people.
• Part 2: The Branch and the Spirit (3–4)
Cleansing of the priesthood; the Messiah as Branch and cornerstone; “Not by might… but by My Spirit.”
• Part 3: Judgment and Purification (5–6)
The flying scroll (the law condemns sin), wickedness removed, the Priest-King crowned (type of Christ).
• Part 4: True Worship & the City of Truth (7–8)
Empty ritual vs. mercy and justice; promise of restored Jerusalem and the nations drawn to God.
• Part 5: The King, the Shepherd, the Pierced One (9–14)
Palm Sunday King; the Rejected Shepherd and thirty pieces of silver; the Pierced One; living waters and the Day of the Lord.
Part 1 (Zechariah 1:1–2:13) — “Return to Me, and I Will Return to You”
Goal (1–2 min): Announce the book’s setting, give the core call (repentance), and frame the first three visions as comfort for a small, discouraged people.
Opening Prayer (Sharon)
“In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Heavenly Father, through Your prophet You called Your people to return to You with all their heart. By the intercession of the Virgin Most Faithful, grant us contrition, perseverance, and joy in Your mercy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Context (Sharon):
Post-exilic Judah (c. 520 B.C., “second year of Darius”). Temple in ruins; fatigue and fear abound. Into this desolation comes a covenant word: return and God returns.
Proclamation (Walt):
Read Zechariah 1:1–6 (D-R) briefly (select key lines to keep pace).
Commentary:
• Covenant summons: God’s mercy is offered in covenant terms (“Turn ye to Me… and I will turn to you”). Repentance is relational: not earning favor but coming home to the Father.
• Warning from history: “Be not like your fathers.” Exile was the fruit of deafness to the prophets. Learn; don’t repeat.
• Durability of the Word: Men perish; God’s word stands.
Patristic Voice:
St. Jerome: divine mercy exceeds human sin. St. Augustine’s Confessions: “Late have I loved Thee”—it is never too late to return.
Night Visions I–III (1:7–2:13)
• Vision 1 — Horses among the myrtles (1:7–17): Angelic patrol reports the earth at rest. Judah feels forgotten, but God speaks “good and comforting words”: He will rebuild His house. Note: Myrtle—humble, fragrant—images the lowly people beloved by God.
• Vision 2 — Four horns & four craftsmen (1:18–21): Horns = oppressive powers; craftsmen = agents God raises to cast them down. Empires fall; the City of God endures (St. Augustine).
• Vision 3 — Measuring line (2:1–13): Man measures Jerusalem, but God declares: “I… will be a wall of fire round about… and I will be in glory in the midst thereof.” Fulfilled in the Incarnation and sacramentally in the Eucharist (St. Cyril). The call: “Sing and rejoice… for behold I come.”
Night Visions I–III: A Traditional Catholic Deep Dive
Zechariah’s night visions come at a moment of discouragement for the remnant of Israel returning from exile. The Temple foundation is laid, but progress is slow. The people feel forgotten. Into this gloom God gives a series of mystical visions, filled with angelic messengers, symbolic imagery, and promises that look beyond the immediate rebuilding of Jerusalem toward the coming of Christ and His Church.
These visions are not merely historical; the Fathers see in them a prophetic unfolding of salvation history that culminates in the Incarnation, the Eucharist, and the final triumph of the City of God.
VISION 1 — The Horses Among the Myrtles (Zechariah 1:7–17)
Setting:
The prophet sees horses—red, sorrel, and white—standing among myrtle trees in a glen. They are part of an angelic patrol that has been sent throughout the earth.
Meaning of the Angelic Patrol
The horses represent angelic forces surveying the world, ensuring that nothing happens outside the providence of God. Their report: “All the earth sits still and is at rest.”
This “rest” was troubling because it meant that the nations who oppressed Israel were undisturbed, while the remnant of Judah remained weak and half-rebuilt.
The Myrtle Symbolism
The Fathers (especially St. Jerome) note that myrtles are humble, fragrant shrubs, not lofty cedars or oaks.
They symbolize:
• The lowly people of God
• Humility—a virtue God cherishes
• Israel restored after humiliation
• Mary, who is called “The Mystical Myrtle” in some medieval titles
Thus, God’s angelic hosts gather around His humble remnant:
“His delight is in the lowly.” (cf. Ps. 51:19)
“Good and Comforting Words”
When the angel intercedes—“How long, O Lord?”—God responds with words of consolation:
• He is “jealous” for Jerusalem — meaning passionately protective
• He is “sore displeased” with the nations at ease
• He will return in mercy and rebuild His house
This vision assures the remnant—and us—that even when God seems silent, His angels are active and His promises remain firm. The humble will be restored; the proud powers will not stand.
Traditional Catholic Insight:
This vision looks forward ultimately to the humble Incarnation, when Christ “dwelt among us” (John 1:14) just as the Angel of the Lord stood among the myrtles.
VISION 2 — The Four Horns and Four Craftsmen (Zechariah 1:18–21)
After consolation comes confrontation. Zechariah sees four horns, the biblical symbol for power, domination, and military might.
The Horns Represent:
Fathers and many commentators associate the horns with empires that oppressed Israel:
1. Assyria
2. Babylon
3. Medo-Persia
4. Greece
(and ultimately Rome, depending on interpretive tradition)
But the spiritual meaning transcends geography:
• These horns represent every worldly power that exalts itself against God.
• The “spirit of antichrist” that St. John says is already in the world (1 John 4:3).
• In every age, horns rise—ideologies, empires, corrupt religious movements, cultural revolutions.
The Craftsmen
God then shows four craftsmen—that is, “smiths” or “workers.”
Their mission:
To shatter the horns.
The prophet emphasizes craftsmanship, not brute force. God overthrows His foes through:
• Previously unknown instruments
• Seemingly insignificant people
• Unexpected interventions
• Holy men and saints He raises up
St. Augustine sees this vision as evidence of the “City of God” overcoming the “city of man.”
Earthly powers rise and fall, but the City of God endures.
Catholic Spiritual Application:
These “craftsmen” foreshadow:
• Christ, the true carpenter of Nazareth, who breaks the power of sin
• The Apostles, who bring down paganism
• The Saints, who reform the Church in times of corruption
• Angelic defenders, who fight spiritual battles unseen
This vision reminds the faithful that no worldly power is permanent and that God always raises defenders to restore His people.
VISION 3 — The Man with the Measuring Line (Zechariah 2:1–13)
One of the most profound visions: a man goes out to measure Jerusalem, marking its boundaries for rebuilding.
Human Effort vs. Divine Reality
The man wants to assign dimensions—walls, gates, fortifications.
But God interrupts the measurement:
“Jerusalem shall be inhabited without walls… For I will be a wall of fire round about her, and I will be glory in the midst of her.” (2:4–5)
What Does This Mean?
1. God Himself will protect His people, not stone walls.
2. A new Jerusalem is being foretold—one not confined to earthly limits.
3. The glory of God will dwell within—a clear prophecy of the Incarnation.
Patristic Insight
St. Cyril of Alexandria teaches that this prophecy is fulfilled:
• In Christ, who is “God in the midst of His people”
• In the Eucharist, the true Shekinah glory dwelling within the New Zion, the Church
• In the Mystical Body, where Christ builds a temple not made with hands
Zechariah’s vision ultimately points to the Catholic Church, the New Jerusalem, expansive and universal, embracing the nations.
“Sing and Rejoice, O Daughter of Zion!”
The vision ends not with fear but with joy:
“For behold, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee.”
This is Advent language.
This is Incarnation language.
This is Eucharistic language.
And it leads to a prophecy of the Gentiles joining the people of God—the Catholic Church’s missionary destiny.
THEMES ACROSS ALL THREE VISIONS
1. God Is Near to the Lowly
The myrtles symbolize the humble remnant—and ultimately the humble Virgin Mary. God begins His greatest works in littleness.
2. God Overthrows Worldly Powers
No horn—no empire, ideology, or revolution—can withstand the craftsmen God sends.
3. God Builds a New Jerusalem Filled with His Glory
Not a political entity.
Not merely a rebuilt Temple.
But the Church, radiant with divine presence.
4. The Visions Point Toward the Incarnation
Christ is:
• the Angel among the myrtles
• the Craftsman who shatters the horns
• the Wall of Fire
• the Glory in the Midst
• the One who comes to dwell among us
All three visions whisper the same promise:
“Emmanuel — God with us.”
Spiritual Application:
• God sees His Church when she is small.
• He casts down pride and raises true builders.
• Our real security is Eucharistic: Christ in our midst, our “wall of fire.”
Reflection (Sharon):
Where have I sought walls of stone control, wealth, reputation instead of the Presence of God?
Exhortation (Walt):
Do not fear small beginnings; God is in the midst.
Part 2 (Zechariah 3–4) — “The Branch and the Spirit”
Goal: Reveal the heart of justification (cleansing of Joshua), announce the Branch/Stone, and ground rebuilding in the Spirit, not strength.
Proclamation:
Selected 3:1–9; 4:1–10 (D-R).
Commentary):
• 3:1–5: Joshua in filthy garments = sinful people; Satan accuses; the Lord rebukes and removes guilt. Baptismal clothing prefigured.
• 3:8–9: “My servant the Orient/Branch” and the stone with seven eyes (fullness of the Spirit). “I will take away… iniquity… in one day” → Good Friday.
• 4:1–6: Golden lampstand fed by two olive trees; “Not with an army, nor by might, but by My Spirit.”
• 4:7–10: “Who hath despised little days?” Zerubbabel will finish what he began.
Patristic Voice:
St. Jerome: Christ measures/orders the Church; St. Thomas Aquinas: the infinite value of the Cross; grace perfects nature.
Spiritual Application:
• Let Christ silence the Accuser in confession.
• Rely on the Spirit more than strategy.
• Honor “little days” of fidelity.
Reflection & Closing Prayer
Part 3 (Zechariah 5–6) — “Judgment and Purification”
Goal: Hold mercy and judgment together; show wickedness removed; announce Priest-King typology.
Proclamation:
5:1–4 (Flying scroll); 5:5–11 (Woman in basket); 6:1–8 (Chariots); 6:9–15 (Crowning Joshua), all abridged.

Commentary:
• Flying scroll: God’s law condemns theft/false oaths—sins against neighbor and God—entering the house to consume it (sin corrodes households).
• Woman in the ephah: Wickedness personified, sealed, and carried to Shinar—evil removed and confined. In Christ, sin is “carried away.”
• Four chariots: God’s sovereign governance of the nations.
• Crowning Joshua: A priest receiving a crown—prophecy of the Branch who unites priesthood and kingship; Christ builds the true Temple (the Church).
Patristic Voice:
St. Augustine: the law reveals sin but cannot heal; Christ bears the curse and cleanses. St. Jerome/Cyril: Priest-King fulfilled in Christ.
Spiritual Application:
Confession as the “fountain” where wickedness is removed; live under the Priest-King’s gentle rule.
Reflection & Closing Prayer
Episode 4 (Zechariah 7–8) — “True Worship & the City of Truth”
Goal: Expose empty ritual; announce restored presence and missionary joy.
Proclamation:
7:4–10 (true fasting/mercy) and 8:3–5, 20–23 (City of Truth; nations come).
Commentary:
• Fasting “for yourselves” vs. fasting “unto Me.” God demands justice, mercy, compassion.
• Promise: “I am returned to Sion… Jerusalem shall be called the city of truth.” Peace pictured as elders and children at play.
• Nations drawn: “Ten men… shall take hold of the hem of one man, a Jew” ultimately Christ “for we have heard that God is with you.”
Patristic Voice:
St. Augustine: the Church as City of Truth; holiness as the Gospel’s most persuasive witness.
Spiritual Application:
Join devotion to justice; become a credible sign that “God is with you.”

Reflection & Closing Prayer
Episode 5 (Zechariah 9–14) “The King, the Shepherd, the Pierced One”
Goal: Present Christ’s royal humility, priestly sacrifice, rejected shepherding, and eschatological triumph.
Proclamation:
Key passages: 9:9–10 (Palm Sunday King); 9:11–12 (blood of the covenant; “prisoners of hope”); 10:2–3 (true shepherd vs. false); 11:12–13 (thirty pieces of silver); 12:10 (Pierced One); 13:1 (fountain for sin); 14:8–9, 16 (living waters; universal kingship).
Commentary:
• King on a donkey: universal peace, not worldly force.
• Blood of the covenant: ransom and identity—“prisoners of hope.”
• True/false shepherds: Christ gathers; false shepherds exploit.
• Thirty pieces of silver: rejection fulfilled in Judas; Christ’s priceless worth.
• The Pierced One & the Fountain: water and blood from His side—Baptism and Eucharist.
• Day of the Lord: living waters flow; all nations worship the King.
Patristic Voice:
St. Augustine/St. Cyril/St. Jerome on humility of Christ, unity of Testaments, and sacramental fountain.
Spiritual Application:
Prize Christ above “silver”; adore the King in the Eucharist; live as citizens of His Kingdom now.
Reflection & Closing Prayer
Complete, Polished Script Segments (Fully Rewritten)
Below are two fully polished segments you can drop straight into recording. (Use the outlines above for pacing the rest.)
Sharon (Host):
Welcome to our new series on the prophet Zechariah—visions, promises, and prophecies pointing directly to Christ. After the exile, Judah returned to a ruined city and an unfinished Temple. Discouragement was thick; hope felt thin. Into this moment, God spoke a covenant word: “Return to Me, and I will return to you.” Today we hear that same call, and we remember: God’s mercy is always greater than our sin.
Walt (Co-Host):
Zechariah isn’t only about a building of stones. It’s about a people rebuilt in faith and obedience, and about the coming King who is Himself the true Temple. Let’s hear the opening summons.
(Proclamation — selected verses, D-R):
“In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came… ‘Turn ye to Me, saith the Lord of hosts: and I will turn to you… Be not like your fathers…’” (Zech 1:1–6)
Sharon:
The word is simple and stern: learn from history. Exile was the bitter fruit of deaf ears. But the very fact God speaks again means mercy stands ready.
Walt:
Covenant mercy does not say “earn My favor,” but “return.” Repentance is a door that only we can open—and God rushes through it with grace.
Part 5 — The Pierced One & the Fountain (rewritten)
Sharon (Host):
Zechariah now carries us to Calvary and beyond. God promises to pour out “the spirit of grace and of prayers,” and then says, “They shall look upon Me whom they have pierced.”
Walt (Co-Host):
John’s Gospel points to this verse at the lance-thrust (Jn 19:37). The Fathers teach: the One speaking through Zechariah is the very One pierced on the Cross. Out flows water and blood—the sacramental life of the Church.
(Proclamation — D-R):
“And I will pour out… they shall look upon Me, whom they have pierced… In that day there shall be a fountain open… for the washing of the sinner.” (Zech 12:10; 13:1)
Sharon:
Here is the Sacred Heart unveiled: a fountain for sin that never runs dry. Baptism cleanses, the Eucharist sustains, confession restores—Christ’s Church lives from His opened side.
Walt:
The same book ends with living waters and universal kingship: “The Lord shall be king over all the earth.” To adore the Eucharist now is to anticipate that Day when every knee shall bow.