Daily Readings - Sat Dec 16 2017

First Reading - Sirach 48.1-4, 9-11

¹And the prophet Elijah arose like a fire, and his word burned like a torch²He brought a famine upon them, and those who provoked him in their envy became few. For they could not bear the precepts of the Lord³By the word of the Lord, he closed the heavens, and he brought down fire from heaven three times⁴In this way, Elijah was magnified in his wondrous works. So who can say that he is similar to you in glory⁹He was received into a whirlwind of fire, into a swift chariot with fiery horses¹⁰He is written in the judgments of the times, so as to lessen the wrath of the Lord, to reconcile the heart of the father to the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob¹¹Blessed are those who saw you, and who were adorned with your friendship

Gospel - Matthew 17.10-13

Matthew

Chapter 17

¹⁰And his disciples questioned him, saying, "Why then do the scribes say that it is necessary for Elijah to arrive first?¹¹But in response, he said to them: "Elijah, indeed, shall arrive and restore all things¹²But I say to you, that Elijah has already arrived, and they did not recognize him, but they did whatever they wanted to him. So also shall the Son of man suffer from them.¹³Then the disciples understood that he had spoken to them about John the Baptist

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the figure of Elijah, the prophet, and his role in preparing the way for the coming of the Lord. In the first reading from Sirach, we hear of Elijah’s fiery spirit and his mission to restore balance and reconcile the people with God. He was a man of great power and zeal, called by God to bring His people back to faithfulness. The reading highlights Elijah’s dramatic departure in a whirlwind of fire, a sign of his unique role in God’s plan. This passage reminds us of the importance of prophets in the history of salvation—those who call God’s people to repentance and renewal. In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to His disciples about Elijah, explaining that Elijah has already come in the person of John the Baptist. The disciples were confused because they expected Elijah to precede the Messiah, as the scribes taught. Jesus clarifies that Elijah’s spirit was present in John the Baptist, who prepared the way for the Lord by calling people to repentance. However, just as Elijah and John the Baptist faced rejection and suffering, so too would Jesus suffer at the hands of those who refused to listen. This passage challenges us to recognize the ways in which God works through unexpected figures and circumstances to fulfill His plan. These readings call us to reflect on our own openness to God’s messengers in our lives. Just as Elijah and John the Baptist were sent to call the people to repentance, we too are called to live lives of conversion and to help others do the same. We must not be like those who failed to recognize Elijah or John, missing the opportunity to respond to God’s grace. Instead, we should approach each day with humility and discernment, seeking to hear God’s voice in the unexpected places and people He sends into our lives. Let us ask for the grace to be attentive to His presence and to follow His will with courage and faith.