Daily Readings - Sat Dec 14 2019
Sirach
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
Matthew
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 lives of two great figures: the prophet Elijah and John the Baptist. In the first reading from Sirach, Elijah is portrayed as a fiery prophet whose words and actions were powerful instruments of God’s will. He brought famine, called down fire from heaven, and was eventually taken up in a whirlwind of fire—a sign of his unique role in God’s plan. The passage highlights Elijah’s mission to restore balance and reconcile the people with God, emphasizing his transformative impact on Israel.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to his disciples about Elijah in response to their question about why the scribes believed Elijah must come before the Messiah. Jesus reveals that Elijah has already come in the person of John the Baptist, though the people failed to recognize him. This connection between Elijah and John the Baptist underscores the continuity of God’s plan and the recurring theme of preparation for the Messiah. Just as Elijah was rejected and suffered, so too did John the Baptist—and so would Jesus himself.
These readings remind us that God often works through unexpected and unrecognized ways. Like Elijah and John the Baptist, we are called to be prophets in our own time, preparing the way for the Lord by living with integrity, speaking the truth, and remaining faithful even in the face of rejection. Let us ask ourselves: Are we open to recognizing God’s messengers in our lives? Do we have the courage to stand firm in our faith, even when it is difficult? May we learn from Elijah and John the Baptist to trust in God’s plan and to embrace our role in bringing His light to the world.