Thursday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time
Hag 1: 1-8; Lk 9: 7-9
Dc. Larry Brockman
Have you got your priorities straight?
The people of Haggai’s time did not. They had promised to build the Lord a House; but they kept saying that the time was not quite right. They all had other priorities- their own paneled houses and rich food. Haggai is trying to rouse them- to get them off of their duff and into action. He plays on their guilt, tries to shame them into action. And what makes it worse- it is a collective effort that is called for building the temple requires cooperation from many of them.
You know, it is easy for us to get into the same mode, the mode off putting the Lord on the back burner. We hear the pulpit call for help with CCD, for example, or an announcement about bible studies or other programs at the Church. We hear about years of evangelization and faith. And we tell ourselves then and there that maybe we should get involved. But then after we leave the Church doors, the reality of our lives takes over. We have commitments with our job, with our spouses, with our kids, and with our friends. So we tell ourselves we can’t make it, not right now. And before you know it, time goes by, even years go by, and whatever it is that we had the best intentions of getting involved in, just never comes to fruition.
You know, this year has been designated the year of Faith. And Popes Benedict and Francis have emphasized Faith this year. That’s what Pope Francis’ new Encyclical “Lumen Fidei”, the Light of Faith, is all about. Let me challenge you with this question: How much do you know about your Faith? If a Baptist or an Evangelical or a Mormon or a Muslim challenge you about a point of Faith, can you meet that challenge? Can you meet it with confidence and conviction? If you hear the Government or Planned Parenthood make statements about abortion or birth control or sex education for children do you know what the church teaches and why? What does the Church teach about the Family and Family Life matters and why? How do you integrate your Faith into your stance on political action? What kind of a witness are you to your faith, because that’s what it takes to build the Church- witnesses.
Chances are you are like the majority of Catholics. Your education in things of your Faith ended after you made your Confirmation. And you know what? That’s not good enough in today’s world, especially in this country, where so many people have a college education and are trained to think critically. Our critical thinking, rationalistic society is eating us alive because we don’t stand up for our Faith. We don’t know how to.
You see, we are the people of God today. And just like the people of God in Haggai’s time, the Lord is waiting for us to build his Church up because it is crumbling around us. People are leaving; and those who are left are not defending it. So you see, if we don’t know our Faith, and practice it with conviction, we are letting the Lord down. And so Haggai’s words from the Lord apply to us. It is time to get out of our complacency and put some priority into building up the Church for the Lord so He can be glorified. And it takes strong Faith to do that.
What’s this, my phone is ringing? Just a minute. Oh, it’s Pope Francis with his daily message. Let me read it to you: “The security of faith does not make us motionless or close us off, but sends us forth to bear witness and to dialogue with all people”.
