25th Week in Ord. Time, Thursday – 28th September 2023 – Haggai 1,1-8; Lk 9,7-9
Have Right Priorities
The first reading is taken from the book of Haggai and he is the first prophet after the Babylonian exile. The people have started to return to their own ruined home land. They are intent on rebuilding their own homes while not devoting themselves to repair the house of God, i.e., the Temple. Haggai challenges the people, especially the wealthy, to rebuild first God’s dwelling place among them. The luxury of the homes of the wealthy is contrasted with the ruined state of the Lord’s home. They are living a life of visible consumption, like people living in today’s world with credit cards. They have planted abundantly, but have been punished by famine, the harvests never materialized. They earn wages, but they disappear when prices soar during the time of famine. He points out that their own labours and efforts are not realized fully because they have not given their priority to God and his Temple. The people are focused on their own issues and interests rather than seeking to do what God wants. Do we take care of our own priorities first and then give a thought about what God wants?
