The Command to Rebuild the Temple!

 

25th week Thursday in Ordinary Time

Year One

Hag 1:1-8

The Command to Rebuild the Temple!

 In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest:  Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house. Then the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai, saying: Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider how you have fared.  You have sown much, and harvested little; you eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and you that earn wages earn wages to put them into a bag with holes. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider how you have fared. 8 Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honoured, says the Lord.

Meditation

The art, architecture and edifices come to be when there is peace, joy and prosperity; these are signs of God’s blessings and mercy. People built a wonderful building for the king and for the people in the best possible way.  When the king and people have a house, which is a place of joy, happiness, rest and leisure, humans think of a place of God where they can find lasting joy, happiness and blessing in their life. Humans go out to build a House for the Lord. It is not only their initiative but also the invitation and inspiration of the Lord to build a House for Him. It is in the House of God, humans honour Him.  In the House of God, one receives blessings for one's life. God is pleased with the works of humans and is much happier when they build a House for him. What more can humans do than build the House of God to praise and glorify Him?

What are we asked build in honour of God?

Year Two

Eccl 1:2-11

Meaningless! Meaningless!

“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” What do people gain from all their labours at which they toil under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever. The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises (Eccl 1:2-5).

In the world, there is nothing new; the course of the sun, wind and the movements of the sea are the same. Time passes, generations pass, and the way of the world is the same. Time keeps moving, and as the ages pass, everything will come to an end. But it is not the uselessness of life and the world but the care to be taken to realize that we are mortal. Our life has meaning and purpose only in the Lord.

What is the purpose of our life?

Lk 9: 7-9

Now Herod the ruler heard about all that had taken place, and he was perplexed because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the ancient prophets had arisen. Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he tried to see him (Lk 9: 7-9).

Jesus’ name and fame were spreading among the people, and it reached King Herod, and he thought that, in his guilt, John, whom he had beheaded, might have come to life. Whatever we may say, guilt tells us that we are wrong, and it affects us. King Herod was guilty of having killed John. His guilt could have been cancelled with his desire to see Jesus.  The desire to see Jesus is great; it is the inspiration of God Himself.  If once we see Jesus, we are transformed. To see Jesus is to see God and to be made blameless in the sight of people and God.

In our guilt, do we have the desire to see Jesus and to be led by Him on the right path?

Fr Putti Anthaiah sdb