25th Week in Ordinary Time

1st Reading: Hg 1:1–8
Gospel: Lk 9:7–9
King Herod heard of all that Jesus was doing and did not know what to think, for people said, “This is John, raised from the dead.” Others believed that Elijah or one of the ancient prophets had come back to life. As for Herod, he said, “I had John beheaded; who is this man about whom I hear such wonders?” And he was anxious to see him.

Commentary
The theme of the prophecy of Haggai was: If God commands it, just do it! Get busy and rebuild my house! That was God’s cry in the Old Testament period and it is His continuing cry today. The physical temple was the shadow of the house of God, which is every believer. Collectively, all believers are the house of God, in which He dwells. He has always built up His people.
When we are working for God, we may be driven from our work by a storm, but we must go back to it. The Israelites neglected the building of God’s house, so that they might have more time and money for worldly affairs. They didn’t say that they would not build the temple. Just not yet! Likewise, we don’t say we will never repent, reform and be faithful. Just not yet! And so it is that the great business we were sent into the world to do, doesn’t get done. We are prone to think wrongly of discouragements, as if they were meant to discharge us from our duty, when they are only meant to try our courage and faith. So, whatever God commands, we should just do it!

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