Daily Readings - Fri Sep 24 2021
Haggai
1On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai:2"Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them,3'Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?4But 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, 'and work. For I am with you,' declares the LORD Almighty.5'This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.'6"This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.7I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the LORD Almighty.8'The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the LORD Almighty.9'The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the LORD Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the LORD Almighty."
Luke
18Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say I am?"19They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life."20"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "The Christ of God."21Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone.22And he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."
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.