Haggai continues his mission of encouragement: "Take courage¡KDo not be afraid". As usual, God does not simply call on us to have courage or to put aside all fear. We are rational beings and need reasons to persuade us.

So God enlightens us and strengthens us by showing why we should not be afraid. The reason for courage and hope lies in God's gift rather than in ourselves: "I am with you¡Kmy spirit continues in your midst."

Reading Haggai's words, we remember the encouragement which Jesus gave us, especially during the Last Supper: "Do not let your hearts be troubled: trust in God and trust in me" (John 14:1). "In this world you will have trouble, but have courage: I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

Promises are part of the vocabulary of hope. Our Christian hope is Jesus himself, our crucified and risen Lord, for he was the promised one, the one who was to come and who has indeed come to assure us that there is no need to be afraid. Hence, after speaking of the glory of the new Temple, God adds a promise of peace. We are assured that whatever is for the greater glory of God will certainly bring us peace.