Reading 1 Hg 1:1-8
On the first day of the sixth month in the second year of King Darius,
The word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai
to the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel,
and to the high priest Joshua, son of Jehozadak:
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
This people says:
“The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.”
(Then this word of the LORD came through Haggai, the prophet:)
Is it time for you to dwell in your own paneled houses,
while this house lies in ruins?
Now thus says the LORD of hosts:
Consider your ways!
You have sown much, but have brought in little;
you have eaten, but have not been satisfied;
You have drunk, but have not been exhilarated;
have clothed yourselves, but not been warmed;
And whoever earned wages
earned them for a bag with holes in it.
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
Consider your ways!
Go up into the hill country;
bring timber, and build the house
That I may take pleasure in it
and receive my glory, says the LORD.
Gospel Lk 9:7-9
Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening,
and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying,
“John has been raised from the dead”;
others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”;
still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.”
But Herod said, “John I beheaded.
Who then is this about whom I hear such things?”
And he kept trying to see him.
I have found the spiritual lives of many people in this country so challenging. I marvel at the way many people accentuate their relationship with God over every other affair. I have seen people cancel shifts, forego family and friend’s celebrations, take time out of work just to honour God. Sometimes I feel I need to brace up when I see the quality of time some people spend- praying, visiting Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and studying the bible despite their family and personal commitments.
On the other hand, I see another extreme, I see people treat God like an opportunity cost, I see people convert the day of the Lord to the day for friends, I see people who only have time for God when all other important things are taken care of, He is at the bottom of their “to-do list.” I have heard people say “family/business before God.”
The first reading of today reminds us that God should be first and how we rate God in our lives will determine how meaningful or otherwise our lives will be.
After the Israelites returned from Babylonian exiles in 538BC, they began to rebuild the temple. At some points, they were interrupted by the Samaritans (Ezra 4:1-23). As such, they abandoned the temple and diverted the money from the royal treasury, their energy and their time into building their own homes, their businesses and re-growing their economy.
Unfortunately, every effort and labour for progress was foiled, nothing to show for their relentless toils and sweats – their labour was in vain. The Lord sent the Prophet Haggai to tell them today that their misery was because they abandoned the Lord’s affairs and put more energy, zeal and resources into their own affairs.
This is an eye-opener for us, in what ways do we also prioritise our affairs over God?
Sometimes it seems we are unwilling to give enough time to God the source of our lives and existence because we need time for more ‘exciting’ things. It never ceased to amaze me how people think to spend more than one hour at mass is “crazy” and so people get uncomfortable too quickly and this happens only in the Church never in the pub, at a show, in the cinema, at a party or when playing cricket.
Sometimes we don’t mind lavishing our resources on fun, enjoyment, pleasure, our annual holidays, which is okay really, but then we are very rigidly calculative about what we spend in and for the Church.
Yet, when we have challenges in life, we run to God and sometimes even yell at Him and dedicate to him our worst dirges for not watching our backs enough (smiles).
In the Gospel, Herod pondered on the works of Jesus and was puzzled, we are invited to a sober reflection as well and careful self-examination.
Am I fair in my dealings with God the source of my being? Do I relate with Him as the one who holds my life and destiny? Is He my priority or an opportunity cost?
Sermon preached by Rev. Fr Emmanuel Okami on September 26, 2019.