Thursday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
September 28, 2023
Daily Reading from the USCCB: Haggai 1:1-8
The first exiles returned from Babylon about 537 B.C. One of their primary responsibilities was the reconstruction of the temple. But not everybody thought that rebuilding the temple should be their main priority. Many thought that achieving material prosperity for themselves was more important. The luxury of the homes of the wealthy contrasted sadly with the ruined state of the Lord’s house.
About 520 B.C., God sent them the prophet Haggai. Haggai’s message was to get busy and build the temple. They would never find prosperity until they put God first. The people listened to Haggai and finished the temple by 515.
We take pride in our churches–as we should–because they express our dedication to the Lord. They express who we are.
