Homily – Friday, Haggai 1:15–2:9 | Luke 9:18–22

The people had returned from exile.
They were discouraged.
The Temple they rebuilt looked small, unimpressive compared to Solomon’s splendour.

But through Haggai, God gave them a promise:
“The latter splendour of this house shall be greater than the former… and in this place I will give peace.”

The point is clear: the glory of God’s house is not in its stone, its gold, or its size.
The true glory is the presence of the Lord.
And when He comes, even a humble house becomes more splendid than Solomon’s.

And so the Gospel shows us that glory arriving.
Jesus asks His disciples: “Who do you say that I am?”
Peter answers: “You are the Christ of God.”

Here is the glory greater than the Temple.
Here is the peace greater than Solomon’s.
Here is the presence of God in flesh and blood.

The Temple pointed forward.
Now the true Temple stands before them.

Yet Jesus immediately explains what this means:
“The Son of Man must suffer many things… be rejected… be killed… and on the third day be raised.”

This is not the glory the world expects.
Not golden walls, but a wooden Cross.
Not the splendour of jewels, but the splendour of wounds.
Not a throne of ivory, but a throne of nails.

The peace promised by Haggai comes not through empire, but through sacrifice.

We too can get discouraged. We look at the Church and see weakness, decline, struggles. Like Israel’s second Temple, it feels small compared to the past.

But God’s promise stands: “The latter splendour will be greater.” Not because of our strength, but because Christ is with us.

The real glory is not in numbers, money, or buildings, but in Christ crucified and risen among us.

Whenever we celebrate Mass, the true glory fills the house.
The Eucharist is more splendid than Solomon’s gold.
The presence of Christ is more radiant than any temple.

The world is still asking: “Who is this?”
Jesus still asks each of us: “Who do you say that I am?”

Like Peter, we must confess: “You are the Christ of God.”
And like Peter, we must learn that Christ’s glory is the Cross.

It is easy to say the words. Harder to live them.
Confession of the lips must become confession of the life.

Haggai promises a glory greater than Solomon.
The Gospel shows us that glory: Jesus, the Christ of God.
And Jesus reveals that glory shines most brightly from the Cross.

The splendour of the Church is not in earthly triumphs, but in the Crucified Lord present among us.
The strength of the parish is not in its size, but in its faith.

So let us not be discouraged when we feel weak or small.
The glory of God is not measured in statistics.
The glory of God is Christ crucified and risen, present in His Church.

The Temple of Solomon is dust.
But the Temple of Christ endures forever.
And the glory of the latter house is greater than the former.
Because in this place, He gives peace.