Friday of week 25 in Ordinary Time
Saints Cosmas and Damian, Martyrs
First reading Haggai 1:15-2:9
Through the prophet Haggai, the Lord makes a stunning promise: “The new glory of this Temple is going to surpass the old… and in this place I will give peace.” This prophecy points beyond stone and structure to Jesus Christ Himself, the true Temple in whom God’s presence fully dwells. The glory of the new Temple is not in its walls but in the person of Christ, who brings peace not as the world gives but as reconciliation with God. This peace is His gift, sealed by His blood, and it surpasses every earthly glory because it transforms hearts and unites us in communion with the Father. On this feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian, physicians and martyrs, we see this prophecy lived out: their faith in Christ, the living Temple, gave them courage to endure suffering and to offer healing in both body and soul. Today’s reading calls us to trust that true peace is found only in Christ, and to let our lives, like theirs, become places where His glory is revealed. Let’s reflect: Do I seek peace in fleeting things, or do I anchor my heart in Christ—the true Temple—whose glory surpasses all else and whose presence alone can bring lasting peace?
Don Giorgio