28Sep
Fri
25th Week in Ordinary Time
Hag. 1:15b-2:9
Ps. 43:1-4
Lk. 9:18-22
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The Prophet Haggai foretold that the glory of the second temple would be greater than that of Solomon's. Although poor and unimposing by comparison, it would be honoured by the presence of the Messiah. At the time of Jesus, this temple was being restored on a grand scale by King Herod to win the favour of the Jews.

The Gospel passage tells us that when the Messiah did come, few recognized Him. Stranger still, when Peter in the name of all the apostles declared Jesus to be the Christ, "He gave them strict orders not to say this to anyone" (Lk. 9:21). To proclaim Jesus openly as the Messiah would have been a political issue for most of the people and for the Romans. Bloody riots had been caused by false messiahs at this time.

However, the greatest obstacle to the preaching of Jesus did not come from the false expectations of the people for a "conquering Messiah" but from "the elders and chief priests and scribes' who rejected Jesus and plotted His death. They saw in "the carpenter of Nazareth" a threat to their power and influence and wealth. Throughout the centuries and in many countries, we find sad and tragic examples of religion being abused by religious leaders for personal gain.



Merciful Jesus, deliver us from ministers of religion who destroy religion by their pride and avarice.

DAILY OFFERING
Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.

PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
INTENTION
That the adolescents and young people of the third millennium may discover a profound ideal to devote themselves to.
Elaboration

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P R A Y I N G    W I T H    T H E    C H U R C H    

INTENTION : That the adolescents and young people of the third millennium may discover a profound ideal to devote themselves to.

"Lord Jesus, you have made these young people your friends; keep them for ever close to you! Amen." This closing prayer of John Paul II at the Mass in Korazim in the Holy Land last year indicates the deep concern he has for the youth of the third millennium.

At the Mount of Beatitudes, the Holy Father looked down on the assembled youth and said, "How may generations before us have been deeply moved by the Sermon on the Mount! How many young people down the centuries have gathered around Jesus to learn the words of eternal life, as you are gathered here today! It is wonderful that you are here!"

The ideal the Holy Father proposes to the youth of today is that they look at Jesus, who embodies the Beatitudes. They will see what it means to be poor in spirit, gentle and merciful, to mourn, to care for what is right, to be pure in heart, to make peace, to be persecuted. He challenges them to go out into the world and preach the message of the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes which speak of truth and goodness, and grace and freedom: of all that is necessary to enter Christ's Kingdom. Now it is their turn to be courageous apostles of that kingdom.




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