The prophet Haggai, in 520 B.C., preached that the temple must be rebuilt for the sake of the faith of the people. In this way he foreshadowed that Jesus, the Messiah to come, would be the Temple of the New Covenant in his body. His birth, then, is the completion of God’s promise to make his dwelling among his people.

Haggai foretells God’s consolation, “For I am with you – says the Lord of hosts. This is the commitment I made to you when you came out of Egypt. My spirit remains in your midst; do not fear! (2:4-5)”

Yet Christmas still challenges us, as Haggai immediately adds: “For thus says the Lord of hosts: In just a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.”

Meditation by Archpriest David Petras

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