Haggai prophesied after the Israelites returned from exile, when Zerubbabel was governor of Judah. As the people rebuilt their homes and settled down, they folded their arms against the holy temple. The Lord send prophet Haggai to ask them: “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?” The prophet explained that they needed the temple for the glory of God to dwell among them and bless their labors with fruitfulness. “Consider how you have fared. You have sown much, and harvested little…Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may appear in my glory, says the Lord.”
But in Jesus Christ the glory of God took its permanent abode among us. The Body of Christ became the perfect Temple; the presence of Christ is the manifestation of God, bringing to us all the heavenly blessings. Jesus brought good news and joy to those believe in Him and abide in Him. So, we ask Herod the Tetrarch, just as Haggai asked the Israelites, “Consider how you have fared?”
Herod was perplexed at hearing about all that Jesus did: casting out demons, healing the sick, preaching the good news of the Kingdom. Herod lived the opposite: he brought fear and imprisonment to the free, sickness to the healthy, and death to the living! Definitely, he cannot be free in the presence of Jesus. Think about that life style that makes it difficult for us to spend few minutes before the Blesses Sacrament, discourages us from going to Confession or even to concentrate in our prayers. There is that little taste of pleasure that makes our hearts shiver at the mere thought of prayer! There ‘Herodic’ dispositions want us to dwell comfortably in our selfish panel houses while neglecting our abode in the Body of Christ, where we are blessed and covered with the glory of God.
St Pio of Pietrelcina, pray for us! Amen.
Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Thursday September 23rd, 2021.
www.soundofsilence.ng
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com
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