The Spiritual Return Of The Prophet Elijah

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

In today’s gospel, Jesus recognizes in John the Baptist, the spiritual return of the Prophet Elijah, I.e., one of the greatest prophets in the land of Israel whose life is resumé in today’s first reading from the book of Sirach. The Prophet of God was one of the most intense, one of impactful prophets. A eurhansianic defender of the Jewish faith amid the corruptions of kings and rulers. He not only speaks of corruption of leaders, his words were like fire which consumes them. His words shatters their leadership as depicted in the first reading. He also called down fire from Heaven to prove that God is real, the pagan gods are not and he has been sent by God. Throughout his ministry, he experienced great suffering and distress having to escape for his life from kings and queens, whom he denounced for their corruptions, and in the end, he was taken up to heaven by a fiery chariot.

We see the same similarities in the life of John the Baptist. He spoke the truth about repentance. He was put into prison and beheaded by Herod who he denounced for his corruption. Elijah and John the Baptist are placed side by side for us to see their common idea of truth and justice and Jesus will share the same fate; he will be rejected by the local and religious authority, brutalized, and executed as an enemy of the Roman Empire.

During Advent and always, Elijah, John the Baptist and Our Lord Jesus gives us hope and encourages in our contemplation and prayers.
We can deepen in our spiritual practice by consciously setting aside daily time for contemplative prayer; opening our hearts and minds to let God more authentically reveal Godself to us. Also, while it’s important to tell God what we are experiencing and what we want, it needs to be balanced with silent presence, for our words are always inadequate, insufficient, and even skewed. God is ever bigger than we can define or imagine. Let us immerse ourselves in God’s truth, not our ideas of truth( mere opinions).

As we continue our Advent journey, let us be reminded that the coming of God as the infant king is just about carols and angels singing or anxious consumers. It is about mercy and justice for the poor and oppressed. The coming of God kingdom means that the kingdom of this world must give way whether they are at the peak of political power or deep down in our hearts. They must give way to the light. It means that God who has come to us, identifies himself to be one of us, knows and understands, loves us and by his suffering and death, he is the victor over sin, sickness, over death.

Advent is filled with hope, Jesus is our hope.

Fr Joseph Osho.