DAILY- HOMILY

September 26, 2019 – THURSDAY. 25th Week in Ordinary Time
Sts. Cosmas and Damian, Martyrs
St. Paul VI, Pope
Green.

Hg 1: 1 – 8 / Lk 9: 7 – 9

Sts. Cosmas and Damian (d. 303) were brothers known for their medical skills and were martyred under Diocletian.

Italian St. Paul VI (1897 – 1978) was Pope from 1963 to 1978. Elected after the pontificate of Pope St. John XXIII (1881 – 1963, Pope from 1958 – 1963), he continued Vatican Council II until its conclusion (1965).

FROM THE 1ST READING: Hg 1: 4 – 8
Is this the time for you to live in your well-built houses while this House is a heap of ruins? Think about your ways: you have sown much but harvested little, you eat and drink but are not satisfied, you clothe yourselves but still feel cold, and the laborer puts the money he earned in a tattered purse.

Now think about what you must do: go to the mountain and look for wood to rebuild the House. This will make me happy and I will feel deeply honored, says Yahweh.

GOSPEL READING: Lk 9: 7 – 9
King Herod heard of all this and did not know what to think, for people said, "This is John raised from the dead." Others believed that Elijah or one of the ancient prophets had come back to life.

As for Herod, he said, "I had John beheaded; who is this man about whom I hear such wonders?" And he was anxious to see him.

REFLECTION
In the first reading the post-exilic prophet Haggai speaks about the rebuilding of the nation, beginning with the rebuilding of the Temple, where God dwells. Their growth and development as a nation will depend upon their faithfulness to their covenant with Yahweh. From the destruction of their Temple and nation and the shame, defeat and desolation of exile, God's chosen people hoped to rise again.. Has the exile formed a chastened and renewed people?

In the Gospel reading King Herod wonders who this miracle-worker Jesus is: one of the prophets come back to life, Elijah-come-back, or John the Baptist raised to life? Though Herod respected John as "an upright and holy man" and "liked listening to him, although he became very disturbed whenever he heard him" (Mk 6: 20), he had John beheaded at the demand of the daughter of Herodias his consort.

We know that Herod wanted to meet Jesus. He finally met him when Pilate sent Jesus to him at his trial. But he got no reply from Jesus. (Lk 23: 6
-12)

Like Herod, we are asked the same question – Who is this Jesus of Nazareth? And, more important, what is he to us now? When Jesus asked his disciples at Caesarea Philippi, "Who do you say I am?" Peter replied, "You are the Messiah." What is our answer?

FINALLY, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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