Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 16, 2023
First Reading: Sirach 48.1-4, 9-11
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Psalm 80
1Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.2Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up your might and come to save us!3Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!4O LORD God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people's prayers?5You have fed them with the bread of tears and given them tears to drink in full measure.6You make us an object of contention for our neighbors, and our enemies laugh among themselves.7Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved!8You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it.9You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land.10The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches.11It sent out its branches to the sea and its shoots to the River.12Why then have you broken down its walls, so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit?13The boar from the forest ravages it, and all that move in the field feed on it.14Turn again, O God of hosts! Look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine,15the stock that your right hand planted, and for the son whom you made strong for yourself.16They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down; may they perish at the rebuke of your face!17But let your hand be on the man of your right hand, the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself!18Then we shall not turn back from you; give us life, and we will call upon your name!19Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! let your face shine, that we may be saved!
Gospel: Matthew 17.10-13
10And the disciples asked him, "Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?"11He answered, "Elijah does come, and he will restore all things.12But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands."13Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter the figure of Elijah, a prophet whose fiery spirit and powerful deeds are celebrated in the Book of Sirach. Elijah's ministry was marked by his unwavering commitment to God's will, even in the face of great adversity. He brought both judgment and restoration, calling the people back to fidelity. His dramatic departure in a whirlwind of fire, as noted in Sirach, underscores the extraordinary nature of his mission. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus sheds light on Elijah's role in the larger story of salvation. When the disciples ask about Elijah's expected return, Jesus reveals that Elijah has already come in the person of John the Baptist. Just as Elijah prepared the way for the Lord in the Old Testament, John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus in the New Testament. However, just as Elijah was not recognized by many in his time, John the Baptist was also misunderstood and rejected by those who failed to see the significance of his mission.
These readings invite us to reflect on the theme of preparation and recognition. Elijah and John the Baptist were both called to be heralds of God's plan, but their messages were often met with resistance. This reminds us that God's ways are not always easy to discern, and His messengers may come to us in unexpected forms. In our own lives, we are called to be attentive to the ways in which God speaks to us through others, even when they challenge us or disrupt our comfortable routines. Just as Elijah and John the Baptist were instruments of God's transformation, we too are called to be instruments of His grace in the world.
As we go about our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Am I open to hearing God's voice in unexpected places? Am I willing to be transformed by His word? The stories of Elijah and John the Baptist teach us that preparation for the Lord's coming is not just a historical event but an ongoing process. May we, like these prophets, have the courage to embrace God's will, even when it calls us out of our comfort zones. Let us pray for the grace to recognize and follow God's plan, trusting that He is always working to bring about His kingdom in our hearts and in the world.