“YET NOW TAKE COURAGE”

Meditation for Friday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time

(Haggai 2:1-9; Lk 9:18-22)

Prophet Haggai continues to address Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah concerning the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. He reminded them of the former glory of the Temple before it was destroyed during the exile. Now that they rebuilt their individual homes and settled down, they should be courageous to work on the temple. “Yet now take courage, O Zerubbabel, says the Lord…take courage, all you people of the land, says the Lord; work, for I am with you, says the Lord of hosts, according to the promise that I made you when you came out of Egypt.” The prophet encouraged them strongly to work on the temple, saying that God’s presence would be with them. The Lord promised to bring to them the treasures of the nations, “And I will fill this house with splendor, says the Lord of hosts.” The temple shall have a greater splendor than in the former days, “And in this place I will give prosperity, says the Lord of hosts.”

Often times we understand and describe God according to the manifestation of His power or the blessings we have received. Those enjoyed the teachings of Jesus would compare Him to John the Baptist; those who witnessed his miracles would call Him another Elijah or one of the great prophets. But the mystery of God that saves is given by revelation. Our experiences and knowledge of God must surrender to divine revelation. At the realm of divine revelation experience becomes worship, and knowledge becomes contemplation! 

After Peter answered through revelation that Jesus is “The Christ of God”, He began to reveal to them that, “The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” This is the real manifestation of God that should form their knowledge of God and of the Christ. The ‘erection of the Cross’ fulfilled the promises God made through Haggai about the temple. And the knowledge and experience of the Cross encompasses and fulfills the great works of the prophets, but goes further to draw us to contemplation and worship. “Yet now take courage” and embrace the Cross of Jesus, for on it God gives prosperity and heavenly treasures. Amen.

Our Lady of Ransom, pray for us. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Friday September 25th, 2021.
www.soundofsilence.ng
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

“CONSIDER HOW YOU HAVE FARED”

Meditation for Thursday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time

(Haggai 1:1-8; Lk 9:7-9)

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