Daily Readings for September 28, 2017

1ST READING

Haggai is chastising the people because they live in fancy houses while the Temple, the Lord’s dwelling, is in a shabby state. Too often, the room we offer the Lord — our own hearts — is impure and full of sin. Let us repent of our sins and allow the Holy Spirit to bring us to a deeper conversion of heart and mind so that the Lord will have a pure and holy dwelling in us.

Haggai 1:1-8

1 On the first day of the sixth month in the second year of King Darius, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai to the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and to the high priest Joshua, son of Jehozadak: 2 Thus says the Lord of hosts: This people says: “The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.” 3 (Then this word of the Lord came through Haggai, the prophet:) 4 Is it time for you to dwell in your own paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? 5 Now thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways! 6 You have sown much, but have brought in little; you have eaten, but have not been satisfied; you have drunk, but have not been exhilarated; have clothed yourselves, but not been warmed; And whoever earned wages earned them for a bag with holes in it. 7 Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways! 8 Go up into the hill country; bring timber, and build the house that I may take pleasure in it and receive my glory, says the Lord.

P S A L M

Psalm 149:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 9

R: The Lord takes delight in his people.

1 Sing to the Lord a new song of praise in the assembly of the faithful. 2 Let Israel be glad in their maker, let the children of Zion rejoice in their king. (R) 3 Let them praise his name in the festive dance, let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp. 4 For the Lord loves his people, and he adorns the lowly with victory. (R) 5 Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy upon their couches; 6 let the high praises of God be in their throats. 9 This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia. (R)

GOSPEL

Herod is a bit of an enigma. He likes to listen to John’s preaching but continues to live a very unholy life. This will end very badly for John. We need to avoid becoming complicit in corruption as Herod. We know what the Gospel demands of us, yet we often do not respond to it or simply ignore the call of God. This is not acceptable for a disciple of Jesus. Let us resolve to change our ways today.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

I am the way and the truth and the life; says the Lord; no one comes to the Father except through me.

Luke 9:7-9

7 Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying, “John has been raised from the dead”; 8 others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”; still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.” 9 But Herod said, “John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see him.