First Reading: (Haggai 1:1–8)
Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 149)
Response: The Lord takes delight in his people.
Gospel: (Luke 9:7–9)
-Reflection and Daily Quest-
The prophet Haggai’s words are a wake-up call. The people of Israel had returned from exile and quickly rebuilt their own homes, but they left the temple of God in ruins. They prioritized comfort and personal security while neglecting the dwelling place of the Lord. As a result, their labor was fruitless: they sowed much but harvested little, earned wages only to lose them, and lived in dissatisfaction. Haggai reveals the truth, their emptiness flowed from forgetting God’s house.
This message speaks powerfully to us today. It is easy to pour energy into our careers, homes, and personal desires while allowing the things of God to remain secondary. We may find ourselves busy, yet strangely unfulfilled, like putting wages into a bag with holes. Without God at the center, all human effort is restless and incomplete.
Building the house of the Lord is not just about stone walls or church projects. Yes, we should care for our parish communities and support the physical upkeep of our places of worship. But more importantly, God desires living temples, hearts that are open, pure, and filled with His presence. St. Paul reminds us: “You are God’s temple and God’s Spirit dwells in you” (1 Cor 3:16).
In the Gospel, Herod was curious about Jesus but never moved from curiosity to faith. We are invited to go deeper, not only to “hear about” Christ but to let Him dwell within us. God seeks a sanctuary not only of stone, but of love, justice, and holiness in our daily lives.
So we must ask ourselves:
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Are we more concerned with our own comfort than with the things of God?
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Do we avoid the sacrifices needed to build both our parishes and our spiritual lives?
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And is my heart a dwelling place worthy of the Lord?
This Gospel challenges us: do we treat Jesus as a passing interest, or as the very center of our lives? True discipleship requires more than curiosity; it demands openness, surrender, and trust.
Now is the time to build, not only the churches where we worship, but the inner sanctuary of our hearts. If we give God space within us, He will live in us, and through us, His glory will shine.
God bless you
Have a wonderful day
Pal Ronnie
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