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     Haggai is one of the "post-exilic" prophets.  This means he was active in the period of transition that occurred when the Jews who were in exile in Babylon began to return to Jerusalem and the surrounding country.  The task of reuniting the people and re-establishing the temple would be a difficult one.  That is what the passages from Ezra were about the last few days.  Haggai helps by challenging the people to "consider their ways" insofar as they are doing personally well while the temple lies in ruins.  Where are their priorities?  He could be the cheerleader for any parish building program!

 

     The refrain - "Consider your ways!" - is one that could stick in the mind.  We in our country have a very high standard of living in comparison with much of the world.  There are so many who have no food, shelter, medical care or decent employment.  In fact our priorities might be oriented more to physical temple-building than to our brothers and sisters - all of them "temples of the Spirit" - who have no place to live!  Those who returned to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina or to New Jersey/New York after Hurricane Sandy know that much of the devastation occurs inside the persons who suffered loss!  Haggai the prophet is a cold splash of water in the face to everyone to work together to build a new and better "temple."  Consider your ways!  AMEN