Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?
This verse sums up the message of Haggai, a prophet living among gloomy, dispirited Jews who had returned from the Babylonian Exile to find their city a pile of rubble, their Temple a heap of stones and their future a bleak blank. They set about Taking Care of Numero Uno. Haggai's task was to remind them that God's Temple, not their dining room set, was Numero Uno and that they should, as a later prophet would say, "Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you as well."
Mark P. Shea is a popular Catholic writer and speaker. The author of numerous books, his most recent work is The Work of Mercy (Servant) and The Heart of Catholic Prayer (Our Sunday Visitor). Mark contributes numerous articles to many magazines, including his popular column “Connecting the Dots” for the National Catholic Register. Mark is known nationally for his one minute “Words of Encouragement” on Catholic radio. He also maintains the Catholic and Enjoying It blog and regularly blogs for National Catholic Register. He lives in Washington state with his wife, Janet, and their four sons.
