Haggai, a short book of only two chapters located near the end of the Old Testament, is not a very well-known book of the Bible. Haggai was a prophet in ancient Israel at the time when the Jews were returning from their exile in Babylon, around the same time as Ezra, whom we heard from earlier in the week. The Temple in Jerusalem had been destroyed. The work to rebuild the Temple was started, but due to opposition, the work was then stopped. When King Darius became the leader of the Persian Empire, he supported the efforts to continue the rebuilding process. Haggai delivered a message of encouragement and motivation in this rebuilding process.
Sometimes, the obstacles in our lives seem insurmountable. Sometimes we feel like that is no way we will get ahead, that there is no way will be able to solve our problems or get back on track. The journey ahead of us may seem like it is a million miles long. However, unless we make that first step, unless we put one foot in front of the other, we won’t even start making progress. Haggai’s words were a wake-up call to the Jews, to get them back on track, to call them back to a life of faith.
The saint we celebrate today did not mince words either. However, he is now one of our most beloved saints. Padre Pio was born to a poor family of farmers in southern Italy in the late 19th century. On two different occasions, his father worked in New York to help support his family. At the age of 15, he entered the Franciscan Capuchin religious order. After he served in WWI, he lived in the Capuchin friary in San Giovanni Rotondo. One day after Mass, he had a vision of Jesus, which produced the stigmata on his hands, feet, and side. Many questioned the authenticity of the stigmata on him. For a while, he was not allowed to celebrate Mass publicly or to hear confessions.
When he was allowed to hear confession again, busloads of pilgrims would arrive. He would be able to see into their hearts in a very profound way. He saw Jesus in the poor and the suffering. Many of the sick believed they received healing through the intercession of Padre Pio. Those who came to his Mass were deeply edified. He died in 1968. His canonization in 2002 by Pope John Paul II was attended by a crowd of more 300,000. To this day, the story of Padre Pio touches the hearts of many of the faithful.
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