Prepare The Way Of The Lord In Humility. And Joy In Your Soul

Ecclesiasticus 48:1-4,9-12
Matthew 17:10-13

In today’s gospel passage, as Jesus and his disciples were descending the mountain after the transfiguration, the disciples questioned Jesus about the coming of Elijah, and then again Jesus continued his discourse on the personality of John the Baptist- his precursor. John saw himself as the forerunner of the Messiah. Christ identifies John as the Elijah who is to come based on his mission and assignment. This is to fulfill the scriptures, ‘Look, I shall send you the prophet Elijah before the great and awesome Day of the Lord’. (Malachi 4:23; Mark 1:2).

When the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah in the Temple; He said that John “will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah* to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.”( Luke 1:17-18). Thus, with the spirit of Elijah, John the Baptist was the expected messenger of the Messiah. The world today is in need of men who can stand for the truth and prepare for God’s kingdom. Men of great faith and humility. Men and women of integrity and courage.

As we prepare for the coming of the Lord and as Gaudete Sunday approaches let us keep watch and pray, live in humility and the joy of the Lord will be our strength. Amen.

Fr Joseph Osho