Daily Catholic Lectio. Sat, 14 December ’24. Elijah has come!

Daily Catholic Lectio

Sat, 14 December ‘24

Second Week of Advent – Saturday

Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11. Psalm 80. Matthew 17:10-13  

Elijah has come!  

As the second week of Advent ends, events related to the coming of the Messiah are presented to us as readings. The Jews believed that efore the Messiah’s arrival, the prophets foretold that Elijah would return. The prophets regarded Elijah as the great prophet of Israel. The greatness of his prophetic ministry is highlighted in today’s first reading.  

The name ‘Elijah‘ means ‘The Lord (YHWH) is my God’. While contemporaries of Elijah turned towards Baal worship, Elijah alone proclaimed ‘The Lord is my God’ through his name and actions.  

Elijah invites us to hold on to the Lord God alone.  

Sirach writes, “Elijah will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children.” The same words are used by the prophet Malachi (4:6). The understanding of the fathers of the Church is that the prophet being referred to is John the Baptist. 

John the Baptist turned the hearts of the previous generation (the fathers) towards the son named Jesus.  

Jesus announces, “Elijah has come.”  

The contemporaries of Jesus were unwilling to turn their hearts towards the son. 

Today’s readings offer us three lessons:  

(1) Elijah is a good example to say that those who hold on to truth and commitment are left alone. Even if left alone, Elijah remains steadfast in his dedication. 

(2) The closeness between words and actions. There is no gap between Elijah’s words and actions.

(3) Let us remove the distractions that hinder our hearts from turning towards Jesus. 

‘The pilgrims of hope’ hold firmly to God (Jubilee 2025, bite 273).  

Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi

Archdiocese of Madurai

Missionary of Mercy