+ We have been reading these past several days about the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem after the Babylonian Captivity. It takes place in the time of the reign of King Darius. Even in this newly rebuilt version of the temple, something still seems to be lacking: God himself reveals that what is lacking is his presence, his glory, his peace. He tells the people through Haggai the prophet that he will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land; he will shake the nations and their treasures and then fill this house with his glory! He tells them that the gold and silver in it are already his, and that the future glory of this house will be far greater than the former. This means that the temple of Christ's body will far surpass any earthly temple that human hands can possibly make – and from that body, from that life, will come forth light and peace!
However, in order for this to happen the Son of Man has first to suffer greatly and be rejected by the enders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised, as Jesus tells his disciples in the gospel passage today Yes, he is most certainly the Christ – the glorified one of God – but the glory for Jesus comes only after the Cross. And so too will come our glory, after our experience of our portion of the Cross.
On this Friday let us embrace the Cross of Christ and our own cross, so that we may experience the glory and peace that flow directly from them because of the glory of the Resurrection of Jesus that always comes on the following Sunday morning!
Let the faithful exult in glory!
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