Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 14, 2019
First Reading: Sirach 48.1-4, 9-11
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Psalm 80
1Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock; you who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth2before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh. Awaken your might; come and save us.3Restore us, O God; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.4O LORD God Almighty, how long will your anger smolder against the prayers of your people?5You have fed them with the bread of tears; you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.6You have made us a source of contention to our neighbors, and our enemies mock us.7Restore us, O God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, 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, and it took root and filled the land.10The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches.11It sent out its boughs to the Sea, its shoots as far as the River.12Why have you broken down its walls so that all who pass by pick its grapes?13Boars from the forest ravage it and the creatures of the field feed on it.14Return to us, O God Almighty! Look down from heaven and see! Watch over this vine,15the root your right hand has planted, the son you have raised up for yourself.16Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire; at your rebuke your people perish.17Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand, the son of man you have raised up for yourself.18Then we will not turn away from you; revive us, and we will call on your name.19Restore us, O LORD God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.
Gospel: Matthew 17.10-13
10The disciples asked him, "Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?"11Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things.12But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands."13Then the disciples understood that he was talking 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.