September 26, 2025 Friday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Daily Readings: Haggai 2:1-9; Luke 9:18-22
Haggai was one of the twelve Minor Prophets, active among the exiles who returned from Babylon. His name means “one who celebrates” or “my Festivals." True to his name, he became a source of encouragement for the returnees, urging them to rebuild the Temple of Jerusalem symbol not only of worship but also of the restoration of their identity and faith. Yet the people faced a deep inner crisis: the new Temple appeared insignificant compared to the grandeur of Solomon’s Temple. Through Haggai, God reminds them that His true dwelling is not in splendid structures but in the hearts of His people. His Spirit abides in them, an assured truth that offers comfort and strength. God is their unfailing source of power and prosperity, but this promise should never be misused as a justification for preaching a false “prosperity gospel.” Rather, it is a call to trust in His presence and remain faithful despite limitations.
The Gospel presents Luke’s version of Peter’s confession. Jesus is found in prayer, and from this moment of communion with the Father emerges a pivotal question: “Who do the crowds say that I am? … But who do you say that I am?” The people’s answers are uncertain, but Peter’s response stands apart: “The Messiah of God.” Unlike Matthew’s fuller declaration or Mark’s simpler version, Luke presents Peter’s confession as correct yet incomplete. For Jesus immediately reveals the deeper mystery of His mission: He must suffer, be rejected, killed, and on the third day be raised. True salvation cannot bypass suffering.
Together, these readings remind us that faith is not about external appearances or easy triumphs, but about God’s abiding presence in our midst and the redemptive power of the Cross.
Call to Action: God often chooses His people to share in the suffering. Saints like Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati discovered holiness through it. Let us not waste the transforming power of suffering!
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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