25th Week, Thursday, Sept 23
Haggai 1:1-8 / Luke 9:7-9
The Jewish exiles rebuilt the city before rebuilding the Temple. Because of the difficulties they encountered, they temporarily delayed rebuilding the Temple. After a while, the temporary delay threatened to become a permanent one. The prophet Haggai rebuked the people for this negligence, saying in effect:
"You are more worried about your own houses than you are about God's house. Stop adding to the comfort of your own houses and start building God's house.”
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How guilty are we of being so concerned about our own personal lives that we neglect our obligations toward God? Jesus said, “Do not worry about your life and what you will eat, or about your body and what you will wear. ... Your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these other things will be given you." Luke 12:22, 30-31
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The Edict of Darius let the Jewish exiles return to Jerusalem. Much reconstruction was waiting for them, but those who had remained in the land feared to be dispossessed of the land they had occupied in the meantime. The prophet Haggai reprimanded the returnees for building luxurious houses for themselves, while the temple still lay in ruins. Was this perhaps not the reason why there were many natural disasters?
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It is not too difficult to understand it when it is said that the state of our life is nothing more than a reflection of our state of mind. Simply it means that what we think is reflected by how our life is. In the 1st reading, the Lord, through the prophet Haggai has this to say to His people: Reflect carefully how things have gone for you.
And the reflection goes like this: You have sown much and harvested little; you eat but never have enough, drink but never have your fill, put on clothes but do not feel warm. The wage-earner gets his wages only to put them in a purse riddled with holes. But this state of life of the people is only a reflection of the state of their minds. For they were saying that the time has not yet come to rebuild the Temple of the Lord, and they have left it in ruins.
But on the other hand, the people were more concerned about their own dwellings and about their own welfare, and neglecting the things of the Lord. But their own concerns over the things concerning the Lord have brought them nothing but a constant lack and shortage of what they laboured for. So, through the prophet Haggai, the Lord had to remind His people - When God is glorified, the people will prosper. If not they will labour in vain and for nothing.
Let us remember this too, for when we put the Lord above and over the rest of our concerns, He will bless us and we will prosper and be at peace.
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Herod, too, was puzzled about this man Jesus. He wanted to see this strange prophet about whom there were so many rumors. Does Jesus, do the gospel and life and our faith puzzle us? Are we in constant search of the deeper meaning of our Christian life?
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This exercise certainly made an impression. Herod heard of it. The news travelled far and fast. He heard about the miracles. This excited him. He was eager to witness some. Luke does not tell us about Herod's bad conscience. Herod rightly feels there is a connection between John and Jesus. With all the rumours that were going around, he did not know what to make of it. The effect on people is different. Some believe that Elijah has come again. Others think that a prophet has risen. Others again think that John has risen from the dead. Herod’s conscience stirs. It will never leave him. Men can silence their conscience. When they do not listen to it, it keeps quiet. They cannot destroy their bad conscience. Herod asks the right question. Who is this? Jesus will put the same question to his apostles very shortly. He was anxious to see him. He did not have to wait long. Jesus was on the point of setting out for Jerusalem. He will see him there (Luke 23.8-12). He was delighted to see Jesus.
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Opening Prayer
Lord our God, you came to make all things new through Jesus Christ, your Son. Let him question us and let us question ourselves whether we give him in our lives the place he deserves. Make him the meaning of all we are and do, for he is our risen Lord forever. Amen
