Daily Readings - Fri Sep 27 2019
Haggai
1And in the seventh month, on the twenty-first of the month, the word of the Lord came, by the hand of Haggai the prophet, saying2Speak to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, the governor of Judah, and to Jesus the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remainder of the people, saying3Who is left among you, who saw this house in its first glory? And how do you see it now? Is it not, in comparison to that, as nothing in your eyes4And now be strengthened, Zerubbabel, says the Lord. And be strengthened, Jesus the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. And be strengthened, all people of the land, says the Lord of hosts. For I am with you, says the Lord of hosts.5And act according to the word that I planted with you when you departed from the land of Egypt. And my Spirit will be in your midst. Do not be afraid6For thus says the Lord of hosts: There is yet one brief time, and I will move heaven and earth, and the sea and the dry land7And I will move all nations. And the Desired of all nations will arrive. And I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts8Mine is the silver, and mine is the gold, says the Lord of hosts9Great shall be the glory of this house, the last more than the first, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place, I will bestow peace, says the Lord of hosts
Luke
18And it happened that, when he was praying alone, his disciples also were with him, and he questioned them, saying: "Who do the multitudes say that I am?19But they answered by saying: "John the Baptist. But some say Elijah. Yet truly, others say that one of the prophets from before has risen again.20Then he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" In response, Simon Peter said, "The Christ of God.21But speaking sharply to them, he instructed them not to tell this to anyone22saying, "For the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the leaders of the priests and the scribes, and be killed, and on the third day rise again.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter themes of hope and recognition, guiding us to trust in God's plan and embrace our faith in Jesus Christ.
First, in Haggai, the prophet addresses the post-exilic community, who, despite their efforts to rebuild the Temple, feel discouraged by its humble state compared to the past. Haggai reassures them with a message of hope: God is present, and the future glory of the Temple will surpass its former splendor. This promise is fulfilled in the Messiah, who brings peace and fills the Temple with His presence.
In Luke, Jesus asks His disciples to recognize His true identity. Peter's confession, "You are the Christ of God," marks a pivotal moment in their understanding of Jesus' mission. However, this recognition comes with the revelation of His impending suffering, death, and resurrection. Jesus' journey to the cross underscores the necessity of enduring trials for the redemption of humanity.
These readings connect through their emphasis on hope and recognition. Haggai's message of future glory aligns with the ultimate glory revealed in Jesus' resurrection. Peter's confession highlights the importance of recognizing Jesus as the Messiah, which strengthens our commitment to His mission. In our daily lives, when faced with challenges, we can draw strength from these teachings. Trusting in God's plan, even amidst struggles, leads us to the hope of redemption and the promise of eternal life. Recognizing Jesus as our Savior, we embrace both the challenges and the promises of His mission, knowing that through faith and commitment, we find true purpose and peace.