Homily – Haggai 1:1–8 | Luke 9:7–9

Haggai speaks to the people after the exile.
They have returned to their land. They are busy building their own houses, planting crops, looking to their comfort.
But the house of the Lord lies in ruins.

The prophet’s words are blunt: “You have sown much, and harvested little… Consider your ways. Go up to the hills, bring wood, build the house, that I may take pleasure in it, says the Lord.”

The message is clear: put God first. Honour Him, and everything else finds its place.

When we neglect God’s house, our own houses do not prosper.

In the Gospel, Herod is hearing rumours about Jesus.
Some say He is John the Baptist raised, others Elijah, or a prophet.
Herod is disturbed: “Who is this I hear such things about?”

He is curious, but not faithful.
He wonders, but does not worship.
He asks the question, but never seeks the answer.

And in the end, Herod silences John, and later mocks Christ.

Haggai’s people were building their own houses but ignoring God’s.
Herod was building his own kingdom but ignoring God’s King.

Both are warnings.
When we live for ourselves, even the good things turn empty.
When we try to build a life without God at the centre, it collapses.

What about us today?

We too can be busy building — careers, homes, reputations — while neglecting the worship of God, prayer, Mass, the sacraments.

We too can be curious about Jesus — a nice teacher, an interesting story — but never bow the knee, never give Him lordship over our lives.

God’s word through Haggai still stands: “Consider your ways. Build my house.”
And God’s question through the Gospel still stands: “Who is this?”

The answer must be more than curiosity. It must be conviction: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

This is not only about personal life, but parish life.
A parish is not just bricks and mortar, but a living temple where God is worshipped.
If we are busy with everything else but neglect the Eucharist, confession, prayer, teaching, then we are no different from the people of Haggai’s time.

But if we build God’s house — with reverence in worship, with faith in Christ, with charity among us — then the blessings flow.

Haggai calls: Build God’s house.
Luke challenges: Decide who Jesus is.
Both confront us with the same truth: God must come first.

Everything else is vanity if Christ is not at the centre.
Everything else crumbles if the Church is neglected.

So today, let us hear the prophet’s voice: “Consider your ways.”
Let us not delay. Let us put God’s house, God’s worship, God’s Son first.

Because at the end, there will only be one question that matters.
Not “What did you build for yourself?”
But “Did you build for God?”
Not “Who did you hear rumours about?”
But “Who did you say that I am?”

And the only answer that endures:
“You are the Christ. The rest is dust.”