St. John of the Cross, Priest  & doctor  

*** 1st Reading ***

Sirach 48: 1-4, 9-11

 Then came the prophet Elijah like a fire, his words a burning torch.

 He brought a famine on the peo­ple and in his zealous love had them reduced in number.  Speaking in the name of the Lord he closed the heavens, and on three occasions called down fire.  How marvelous you were, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds! Who could ever boast of being your equal?  

 You were taken up by a whirlwind of flames in a chariot drawn by fiery horses.  It was written that you should be the one to calm God’s anger in the future be­fore it broke out in fury, to turn the hearts of fathers to their sons and to restore the tribes of Jacob.  Happy are those who will see you and those who die in love, for we too shall live.

 

Ps  80  Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

 

**** Gospel ****

Matthew 17: 9a, 10-13

And as they came down the mountain, Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone what they had just seen, until the Son of Man be raised from the dead.  The disciples asked him, “Why do the teachers of the Law say that Elijah must come first?”  Jesus answered, “So it is: first comes Elijah; and he will restore all things.  But I tell you, Elijah has already come and they did not recognize him, and they treated him as they pleased. And they will also make the Son of Man suffer.”  Then the disciples understood that Jesus was referring to John the Baptist.

 

 Gospel Reflection:

“THEY WILL ALSO MAKE THE SON OF MAN SUFFER.”

In today’s readings, we heard of a prominent figure in the Old Testament – the Prophet Elijah. The Gospel narrative follows immediately after the Transfiguration event wherein Jesus; three disciples Peter, James and John, have seen a vision of Jesus as the glorious Son of the Father.

Iin that event, they saw Moses and Elijah speaking with Jesus and thereby giving them a hint of the mission of Jesus as Messiah, and his fate: suffering, dying and rising again. While they were on their way down, the disciples asked Jesus, “why do the scribes says that Elijah has to come first?”

To which Jesus replied: “I tell you that Elijah has come already and they did not recognize him but treated him as they pleased.” Elijah had, indeed, arrived, but they did not recognize him. This would also be Jesus’ fate. He came but they did not recognize him. Instead, they persecuted him. 

The role of Elijah’s return was to pave the way for the coming of the Messiah and this is what John the Baptist did exactly. Friends, both Elijah and John the Baptist reminds us of our obligation as disciples of the Lord: to do our share in preparing the way for the Lord’s coming. Now, how do I make my own preparations for the Lord’s birth?