I am the salvation of the people, says the Lord. If you cry out to me in any trial, I will hear you and I will be your God forever.

 

I am the salvation of the people, says the Lord. If you cry out to me in any trial, I will hear you and I will be your God forever.

There are people who are too busy with their own interests, leaving God in the background. He, however, recommends: “Build the house; it will be acceptable to me, I will glorify myself in it.” The liturgy invites us to dedicate to the Lord the importance, attention and time that are due to Him.

First Reading: Haggai 1:1-8

Beginning of Haggai's prophecy - 1In the second year of the reign of Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day, the word of the Lord was spoken through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel, son of Salathiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua, son of Josedec, high priest: 2“This says the Lord of hosts: These people say, 'The time has not yet come to build the house of the Lord'”. 3The word of the Lord was spoken through the prophet Haggai: 4“Is it time for you to live in paneled houses, while this house is in ruins? 5This is what the Lord of hosts now says: Consider with all your heart the situation you are going through: 6you have sown much and reaped little; you have fed and are not satisfied, you drink and are not drunk; you are dressed and you are not warm; those who work for wages keep it in deaf ears. 7This is what the Lord of hosts says: Consider with all your heart the difficult situation you are going through: 8but go up to the mountain, bring wood and build the house; it will be acceptable to me, I will glorify myself in it, says the Lord.” - Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: 149

The Lord truly loves his people.

1. Sing to the Lord God a new song, / and his praise in the assembly of the faithful! / Let Israel rejoice in the one who did it, / and Zion rejoice in her king! – R.

2. With dances glorify his name, / play the harp and drum in his honor! / Because, indeed, the Lord loves his people / and crowns his humble ones with victory. – R.

3. Let the faithful exult in his glory / and, singing, rise from their beds / with praises of the Lord in their mouth; / behold the glory to all his saints. – R.

Gospel: Luke 9,7-9

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.

I am the way, the truth and the life; / no one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6). – R.

Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Luke – At that time, 7th tetrarch Herod heard about everything that was happening and was perplexed, because some said that John the Baptist had risen from the dead. 8Others said that Elijah had appeared; still others that one of the ancient prophets had been resurrected. 9Then Herod said, “I had John beheaded. Who is this man about whom I hear these things?” And he sought to see Jesus. – Word of salvation.

Reflection:

Jesus comes to create and propose a new mentality and, therefore, a new lifestyle. Due to his coherent attitudes and his power to expel the forces of evil and cure illnesses, in a short time Jesus had captivated and drawn numerous crowds behind him. Although he insisted that his deeds not be published, his fame soon spread far and wide and reached the ears of Herod, a strong man in the government. Whether it was the prophet Elijah who returned, or John the Baptist, resurrected from the dead, both memories were a torment to the head of the cruel Herod. It gets confusing. “He wanted to see Jesus”, perhaps to free himself from the nightmare of his disorderly life. In Jesus' passion, Herod will do everything to get a word out of him. In vain. It was mere curiosity, not a desire to become a disciple.