First reading Haggai 1:1-8
‘Rebuild the House’
In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord was addressed through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, high commissioner of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, as follows, ‘The Lord of Hosts says this, “This people says: The time has not yet come to rebuild the Temple of the Lord. (And the word of the Lord was addressed through the prophet Haggai, as follows:) Is this a time for you to live in your panelled houses, when this House lies in ruins? So now, the Lord of Hosts says this: Reflect carefully how things have gone for you. You have sown much and harvested little; you eat but never have enough, drink but never have your fill, put on clothes but do not feel warm. The wage earner gets his wages only to put them in a purse riddled with holes. So go to the hill country, fetch wood, and rebuild the House: I shall then take pleasure in it, and be glorified there, says the Lord.”’
Responsorial Psalm 149:1-6,9
The Lord takes delight in his people.
or
Alleluia!
Sing a new song to the Lord,
his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in its Maker,
let Zion’s sons exult in their king.
The Lord takes delight in his people.
or
Alleluia!
Let them praise his name with dancing
and make music with timbrel and harp.
For the Lord takes delight in his people.
He crowns the poor with salvation.
The Lord takes delight in his people.
or
Alleluia!
Let the faithful rejoice in their glory,
shout for joy and take their rest.
Let the praise of God be on their lips:
this honour is for all his faithful.
The Lord takes delight in his people.
or
Alleluia!
Gospel Luke 9:7-9
‘John? I beheaded him; so who is this?’
Herod the tetrarch had heard about all that was being done by Jesus; and he was puzzled, because some people were saying that John had risen from the dead, others that Elijah had reappeared, still others that one of the ancient prophets had come back to life. But Herod said, ‘John? I beheaded him. So who is this I hear such reports about?’ And he was anxious to see Jesus.
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Reflection
“To see Jesus is to live with Him”
Herod was curious to see Jesus but did not act on it. Later, in the scene of Jesus’ trial, Herod got the opportunity to meet Him. In fact, he questioned Jesus for some time and even demanded Him to perform some signs. In the end, he and his soldiers treated Him with contempt and mocked Him (Luke 22: 6-12). His curiosity and eventual meeting with Jesus neither opened his eyes to see God in Jesus nor led him to faith. Many other people wanted to see Jesus in the gospel, and their lives changed after encountering Him. For example, Nicodemus, the Pharisee, went to see Jesus in the secret of the night for fear of the criticism of the other Pharisees (John 3:1-21). His dialogue with Jesus marked him for life. In the end, Nicodemus became Jesus’ disciple, and he was the one who buried Jesus’ body (John 19:38-42).
Let us never get tired of asking, “Who are you, Lord?” and have the desire to know Him more and grow in our faith in Him. To see Jesus demands that we engage our lives with Him and become His disciples for life!
Question for reflection:
Who is Jesus for me?
