Daily Readings - Fri Sep 24 2021
Haggai
1In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet,2"Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people, and say,3'Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?4Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the LORD. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the LORD. Work, for I am with you, declares the LORD of hosts,5according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not.6For thus says the LORD of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land.7And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts.8The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the LORD of hosts.9The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the LORD of hosts.'"
Luke
18Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?"19And they answered, "John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen."20Then he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" And Peter answered, "The Christ of God."21And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one,22saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful messages of hope and trust in God’s plan. The first reading from Haggai speaks to a people who had seen the glory of the Temple in its prime but now found themselves gazing at its ruins. Haggai encourages them not to lose heart, for God is with them, and He promises that the glory of the new Temple will surpass the old. This prophecy is not just about stones and mortar but about the renewal of God’s presence among His people. It reminds us that even in times of discouragement or decline, God’s Spirit remains with us, guiding us toward a future filled with His glory.
The Gospel reading from Luke shifts our focus to Jesus, who asks His disciples a profound question: “Who do you say that I am?” Peter’s confession, “The Christ of God,” is a moment of clarity and faith. Yet, Jesus immediately reveals the cost of being the Messiah: suffering, rejection, and death, followed by resurrection. This passage invites us to reflect on our own understanding of Jesus and the implications of following Him. Like the disciples, we are called to embrace the mystery of the cross, trusting that God’s plan, though often shrouded in darkness, leads to redemption and new life.
Both readings call us to trust in God’s promises, even when the present seems uncertain. Haggai reminds us that God’s Spirit is always at work, transforming ruins into something greater. Luke’s Gospel challenges us to deepen our faith in Jesus, even when the path ahead is difficult. In our daily lives, we are invited to act with courage, knowing that God is with us. Let us not be afraid to face challenges or to embrace the cross, for in doing so, we participate in God’s plan to bring light and hope to a world in need. May we, like the people of Haggai’s time and the disciples of Jesus, trust in the Lord’s promise: “I am with you,” and may we find peace in His presence.