25th Week in Ordinary Time

1st Reading: Hg 2:1–9
Gospel: Lk 9:18–22
One day when Jesus was praying alone, not far from his disciples, he asked them, “What do people say about me?” And they answered, “Some say that you are John the Baptist; others say that you are Elijah, and still others that you are one of the former prophets risen from the dead.” Again Jesus asked them, “Who then do you say I am?” Peter answered, “The Messiah of God.” Then Jesus spoke to them, giving them strict orders not to tell this to anyone.
And he added, “The Son of Man must suffer many things. He will be rejected by the elders and chief priests and teachers of the Law, and put to death. Then after three days he will be raised to life.”

Commentary
Certainly, there were some old men in Haggai’s time, who had seen Solomon’s temple in its splendor. These kind of comparisons between the good old days and the present day…or between the work of God in various places and times…are rarely beneficial. It didn’t do the people of Haggai’s day any good to think about how magnificent Solomon’s temple had been, when they compared it with their own rebuilding work. God gave the people of Israel three clear commands: be strong, get working and do not fear! Each of these three is essential to getting the work of God done. Nothing will ever be accomplished without strength, hard work and courageous hope.
Under the old covenant, God was among the people. Under the new covenant, God is in us, His people. Our spiritual house shall be filled with glory of another nature. If we have silver and gold, we must honor God with it, for it really is His. If we don’t have silver and gold, we must honor Him with whatever we have, and He will accept us as we are. We are to look for no other but Christ. If God is with us, peace is with us!

________
Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc., 8 Mayumi St., U.P. Village, Diliman, Quezon City, U.P. P.O. Box 4, Diliman, 1101 Quezon City; Tel. No. (02) 921-39-84; Fax No.: (02) 921-62-05 E-mail: cci@claret.org; Websites: http://www.claretianpublication.com (Claretian Publications) & http://www.claretphilippines.org (Claretian Missionaries in the Philippines) Claretian HOPE CENTER: Aurora Milestone Tower, 1045 Aurora Blvd., Loyola Heights, Quezon City E-mail: hopecenter07@yahoo.com/hopecenter07@gmail.com