Daily Catholic Lectio. Sat, 13 December ‘25. Elijah Has Come

Daily Catholic Lectio

Sat, 13 December ‘25

Second Week of Advent, Saturday

Sirach 48:1–4, 9–11. Matthew 17:10–13

Elijah Has Come

As the second week of Advent draws to a close, the Church places before us two figures whose voices prepare the way for the Messiah: Elijah of the Old Testament and John the Baptist of the New. Their mission bridges centuries, yet their message is one: turn your heart back to God.

1. Elijah, the Prophet Who Stood Alone for God

Sirach praises Elijah with some of the most striking words in Scripture: a fire, a whirlwind, a prophet whose word shook kingdoms, stopped rain, and spoke with fearless courage. His very name — Elijah, “The Lord is my God” — is itself a proclamation of faith. At a time when many in Israel bowed before Baal, Elijah stood alone, insisting by word and deed that the Lord alone is God.

Elijah shows us that fidelity often demands standing apart. Truth does not always attract crowds. Authentic witness may isolate. But like Elijah, the believer remains firm, not because he is strong, but because God is.

2. Elijah’s Mission: Turning Hearts

Sirach gives us a key expression: Elijah turned the hearts of fathers toward their sons. These words echo the prophet Malachi, describing the one who would come before the Messiah. The early Church Fathers saw this fulfilled in John the Baptist.

What does this turning of hearts mean? In biblical language, “fathers” refers to one generation, “sons” to the next. Elijah’s mission — and John’s — was to invite a whole people to turn back, to repair what was broken, to rediscover the covenant, to recognise the Messiah standing before them. John the Baptist stands at the threshold of the New Testament like Elijah, pointing not to himself but to Another: “After me comes One who is greater.”

3. “Elijah Has Already Come”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus confirms what the disciples are slowly discovering: “Elijah has already come… and they did not recognise him.” John the Baptist fulfilled Elijah’s mission — preparing hearts, calling to repentance, pointing to Christ. Yet many refused to listen. Their hearts were turned inward, not toward the Son. This is the tragedy Jesus laments: the Messiah was among them; the forerunner had prepared the way; yet their eyes remained closed.

4. Lessons for Our Advent Journey

Today’s liturgy offers us three invitations for our own preparation:

(a) Cling to the truth, even when it isolates. Elijah reminds us that fidelity may mean standing alone. Advent calls us to renew our loyalty to God — not to shifting opinions, not to social pressures, but to the Lord who speaks truth.

(b) Let word and action be one. Elijah’s life matched his message. John’s preaching matched his humility. Advent challenges us to close the gap between what we profess and how we live.

(c) Clear away distractions that turn our hearts from Christ. Noise, anxiety, busyness, resentment — these are the “Baal altars” of our time. They divide our attention and dull our desire for God. Advent is the season to turn our hearts fully toward the Son, as Elijah and John invited their own generations to do.

Conclusion

“Elijah has come,” Jesus says — meaning that the time of waiting is nearly over. The One whom Elijah announced, the One whom John revealed, stands before us. Advent asks us not simply to admire these prophets, but to follow their call: To turn back. To listen deeply. To recognise the Lord already in our midst.

May we, like Elijah and John the Baptist, prepare a straight path for Christ in our hearts — so that when He comes, He finds us ready, attentive, and welcoming.

Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi

Archdiocese of Madurai

Missionary of Mercy