FIRST READING
“Build the house, that I may take pleasure in it.”
The beginning of the Book of the Prophet Haggai (Haggai1:1 -8)
In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, “Thus says the Lord of hosts: This people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.” Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your panelled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider how you have fared. You have sown much, and harvested little; you eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages earns wages to put them into a bag with holes. “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider how you have fared. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may appear in my glory, says the Lord.”
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm149:1-2.3-4.5-6a and 9bc (R.4a)
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
Or: Alleluia.
Sing a new song to the Lord,
His praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in its Maker;
Let Sion’s children exult in their king. R.
Let them praise his name with dancing,
and make music with timbrel and harp.
For the Lord takes delight in his people;
he crowns the poor with salvation. R.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
Or: Alleluia.
Let the faithful exult in glory,
and rejoice as they take their rest.
Let the praise of God be in their mouths.
This is an honour for all his faithful. R.
ALLELUIA John14:6
Alleluia. I am the way, and the truth, and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father, but by me. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“John I beheaded,’ but who is this about whom I hear such things?”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 9:7-9)
At that time: Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by Jesus, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen. Herod said, “John I beheaded; but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he sought to see him.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
Herod’s quest to see Jesus is obviously not a positive omen. Every search is not an expression of love, faith, and trust. This is evident in today’s Christianity. Many of us are eager to hear Jesus. We like him so long as we feel we can make him fit into our image and our definition. Making him fit into our idea renders us comfortable, so that we don’t have to change our ways. But if we seek Jesus, we have to do it on His terms and conditions. This is what we see in Padre Pio’s life, whom we commemorate today. He sought and found Jesus to the point of bearing his wounds.