In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our mind, so that we can see what hope his call holds for us. Amen Alleluia!
Do you know without a doubt that the Lord is with you this day and every day? Does His spirit remain with you and around the others in your family, community and Church? Then why are you afraid? Why are you not doing more by taking up leadership? Or getting involved in changing the lives of those around you through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? If you are not prepared to suffer for His namesake then how then can you declare with conviction to others that He is the Christ of God!? How can you say that He is the Lord of lord, King of kings in your life?
The Lord our God, creator of Heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible; all the treasures of the World belong to Him alone! And yet have you not taken the time to ponder and ask Him, Lord what are human beings that you care for them, mere mortals that you think of them? That the greatest treasure you desire is that of my heart.
Forgive me Lord for not having had the courage to stand firm in my love for You as You are firm in Your love for me. I am prepared to lay down my life for You and for my brethren, for to die to myself is to rise to new life in You. Amen
First reading
Haggai 1:15-2:9
‘The new glory of this Temple is to surpass the old’
In the second year of King Darius, on the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord was addressed through the prophet Haggai, as follows, ‘You are to speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, the high commissioner of Judah, to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people. Say this, “Who is there left among you that saw this Temple in its former glory? And how does it look to you now? Does it seem nothing to you? But take courage now, Zerubbabel – it is the Lord who speaks. Courage, High Priest Joshua son of Jehozadak! Courage, all you people of the country! – it is the Lord who speaks. To work! I am with you – it is the Lord of Hosts who speaks – and my spirit remains among you. Do not be afraid! For the Lord of Hosts says this: A little while now, and I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all the nations and the treasures of all the nations shall flow in, and I will fill this Temple with glory, says the Lord of Hosts. Mine is the silver, mine the gold! – it is the Lord of Hosts who speaks. The new glory of this Temple is going to surpass the old, says the Lord of Hosts, and in this place I will give peace – it is the Lord of Hosts who speaks.”’
Gospel
Luke 9:18-22
‘You are the Christ of God’
One day when Jesus was praying alone in the presence of his disciples he put this question to them, ‘Who do the crowds say I am?’ And they answered, ‘John the Baptist; others Elijah; and others say one of the ancient prophets come back to life.’ ‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?’ It was Peter who spoke up. ‘The Christ of God’ he said. But he gave them strict orders not to tell anyone anything about this.
‘The Son of Man’ he said ‘is destined to suffer grievously, to be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes and to be put to death, and to be raised up on the third day.’
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