SATURDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OFADVENT TIME (Year II)
First Reading: Sir 48:1-4. 9-11b
Psalm: 80. R. v. 4
Gospel: Mt 17:9a. 10-13
The first reading of today reminds us of the great prophetic power of Elijah. He was a prophet feared by the people of his time. His deeds were wonderful and frightful. He called down fire from heaven, brought famine upon the land, and shut the heavens. The Jews feared and respected the prophet Elijah. According to the prophet Malachi (4:5-6), Elijah was to come before the Messiah. This was the reason why the disciples of Jesus while coming down from the mountain of transfiguration asked him of the coming of Elijah who was to come before him as prophesied by the Prophet.
Everybody including the scribes was really expecting Elijah to come again like a blast of cleansing and avenging fire. They were expecting to see the glorious deeds of Elijah once again. But Elijah had already come in the person of John the Baptist whose ways was of suffering and sacrifice and not as expected by the people. They treated him shamefully and so would they treat Jesus.
Jesus came to make the world a better place for us. He came to teach us the perfect way. This was what John preached; that we follow the way of repentance, forgiveness and love. John and Jesus did not preach the message of blasting and destroying with fire and thunder. Rather they preached that God does not chase his own away through terrible and frightful deeds but draws them to himself through service and sacrificial love. Let us learn the way of service and sacrificial love as we go about our daily businesses. It is in this way that we will win more souls to God than chase them away by anger, hate, and revenge.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Lord Jesus, turn our hearts to the truth of the gospel of love which you preached so that our world would be a better place for us all. Amen.
FR VALENTINE EGBUONU, MSP
First Reading: Sir 48:1-4. 9-11b
Psalm: 80. R. v. 4
Gospel: Mt 17:9a. 10-13
The first reading of today reminds us of the great prophetic power of Elijah. He was a prophet feared by the people of his time. His deeds were wonderful and frightful. He called down fire from heaven, brought famine upon the land, and shut the heavens. The Jews feared and respected the prophet Elijah. According to the prophet Malachi (4:5-6), Elijah was to come before the Messiah. This was the reason why the disciples of Jesus while coming down from the mountain of transfiguration asked him of the coming of Elijah who was to come before him as prophesied by the Prophet.
Everybody including the scribes was really expecting Elijah to come again like a blast of cleansing and avenging fire. They were expecting to see the glorious deeds of Elijah once again. But Elijah had already come in the person of John the Baptist whose ways was of suffering and sacrifice and not as expected by the people. They treated him shamefully and so would they treat Jesus.
Jesus came to make the world a better place for us. He came to teach us the perfect way. This was what John preached; that we follow the way of repentance, forgiveness and love. John and Jesus did not preach the message of blasting and destroying with fire and thunder. Rather they preached that God does not chase his own away through terrible and frightful deeds but draws them to himself through service and sacrificial love. Let us learn the way of service and sacrificial love as we go about our daily businesses. It is in this way that we will win more souls to God than chase them away by anger, hate, and revenge.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Lord Jesus, turn our hearts to the truth of the gospel of love which you preached so that our world would be a better place for us all. Amen.
FR VALENTINE EGBUONU, MSP
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