Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 15, 2018
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
Psalm 80
1Unto the end. For those who will be changed. The testimony of Asaph. A Psalm. The One who reigns over Israel: Be attentive. For you lead Joseph like a sheep. The One who sits upon the cherubim: Shine fort2in the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh. Awaken your power and draw near, so as to accomplish our salvation3Convert us, O God. And reveal your face, and we will be saved4O Lord, God of hosts, how long will you be angry over the prayer of your servant5How long will you feed us the bread of tears, and give us to drink a full measure of tears6You have set us as a contradiction to our neighbors. And our enemies have ridiculed us7O God of hosts, convert us. And reveal your face, and we will be saved8You have transferred a vineyard from Egypt. You have cast out the Gentiles, and planted it9You were the leader of the journey in its sight. You planted its roots, and it filled the earth10Its shadow covered the hills, and its branches covered the cedars of God11It extended its new branches even to the sea, and its new seedlings even to the river12So then, why have you destroyed its walls, so that all those who pass by the way gather its grapes13The wild boar of the forest has trampled it, and a single wild beast has laid waste to it14Turn back, O God of hosts. Look down from heaven, and see, and visit this vineyard15and complete what your right hand has planted, and look upon the son of man, whom you have confirmed for yourself16Whatever has been set on fire and dug under will perish at the rebuke of your countenance17Let your hand be over the man on your right, and over the son of man, whom you have confirmed for yourself18For we do not depart from you, and you will revive us. And we will invoke your name19O Lord, God of hosts, convert us. And reveal your face, and we will be saved
Gospel: Matthew 17.10-13
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, a prophet whose fiery passion and unwavering commitment to God’s will left an indelible mark on the history of salvation. In the First Reading from Sirach, Elijah is portrayed as a man of extraordinary zeal, whose words burned like a torch and whose actions were accompanied by miraculous signs. He was a man of judgment and restoration, sent by God to call His people back to faithfulness. Yet, as the passage also notes, Elijah’s mission was not without cost; those who opposed him suffered the consequences of their rebellion. The reading ends with a note of hope: Elijah’s ultimate role was to reconcile and restore, to bring peace between generations.
In the Gospel, Jesus takes up this theme of Elijah but gives it a surprising twist. When the disciples ask why the scribes teach that Elijah must come first before the Messiah, Jesus agrees that Elijah will indeed come to restore all things. However, He adds that Elijah has already come in the person of John the Baptist. The disciples, in their confusion, had failed to recognize John’s role as the fulfillment of Elijah’s spirit. Jesus laments that just as Elijah suffered rejection and mistreatment, so too would the Son of Man suffer at the hands of those who refused to see the truth.
These readings remind us that God’s plan often unfolds in ways we do not expect. Elijah’s spirit appeared in John the Baptist, not in a fiery chariot or a dramatic spectacle, but in a humble prophet crying out in the wilderness. Similarly, in our own lives, God’s presence may come to us through unexpected people or circumstances. The moral lesson here is one of humility and openness. We must learn to recognize God’s work in the world, even when it does not conform to our preconceived notions. Like Elijah and John the Baptist, we are called to be instruments of restoration and reconciliation, bringing light and truth to a world that often resists it. Let us pray for the grace to see God’s hand at work in our lives and to respond with courage and faith.