Awesome Elijah

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/121016.cfm) reminds me how awesome the prophet Elijah is. 

The first reading shows us some cool facts about Elijah:

How awesome are you, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds!
Whose glory is equal to yours?
You were taken aloft in a whirlwind of fire,
in a chariot with fiery horses.
You were destined, it is written, in time to come
to put an end to wrath before the day of the LORD,
To turn back the hearts of fathers toward their sons,
and to re-establish the tribes of Jacob

How interesting! How cool is that?! Elijah taken in a whirlwind of fire in a chariot with fiery horses! Wild! And how awesome Elijah’s role is, to re-establish people and prepare them for Christ’s coming. During that time, it was believed that Elijah would come back before the Messiah comes. And in the gospel, Jesus tells us that it’s true. However, he did not come in a way they wanted to or they expected him to. He came in the person of John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Jesus. By baptizing and proclaiming the message, he prepared the people for Christ’s coming. That’s how he re-established the people with God.

This is again an example that God’s ways are not always our ways. As Elijah came in the person of John the Baptist, the Messiah came in Jesus, a carpenter’s son born in a stable – not the mighty king and ruler they were expecting. It reminds us that even if things does not fit the way we expect them to be, God’s purpose will still be accomplished. We should not close our minds and expect God to behave in the way we expect him to be.

Another thing is that God uses us in ways we don’t expect, if only we allow him. We may not know the implications or effects of the things that we do for Him, but we still do it anyway. He needs us to. He used John to prepare the way for Christ, and after 2000 years, he still needs people who will do that. In our own little way, we can. As we prepare ourselves, we should also be open and let God use us, we should also do our part to help others prepare for Christ’s coming. 

As we approach Christmas, preparation has been the theme for a number of days now because it is important. God is continuously inviting us. He’s just waiting for our reply.

May we always be ready and willing to be used by God in his ways and for his purpose.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend. Thank you for another reminder of how generous and rewarding you are. Thank you for showing me how awesome Elijah is, because it shows how generous you are in rewarding people who serve you. Lord, like Elijah, help me prepare for you. Help me prepare for Christmas. And help me take it one step further, to prepare not just myself, but in my own little way, help prepare it for others as well. May the way I live my life prepare others for you. Amen.

Blessed weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

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December 10, 2016
Saturday of the Second Week in Advent
Lectionary: 186

Reading 1 Sir 48:1-4, 9-11

In those days,
like a fire there appeared the prophet Elijah
whose words were as a flaming furnace.
Their staff of bread he shattered,
in his zeal he reduced them to straits;
By the Lord’s word he shut up the heavens
and three times brought down fire.
How awesome are you, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds!
Whose glory is equal to yours?
You were taken aloft in a whirlwind of fire,
in a chariot with fiery horses.
You were destined, it is written, in time to come
to put an end to wrath before the day of the LORD,
To turn back the hearts of fathers toward their sons,
and to re-establish the tribes of Jacob.
Blessed is he who shall have seen you
and who falls asleep in your friendship.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 80:2ac and 3b, 15-16, 18-19

R. (4) Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
O shepherd of Israel, hearken,
From your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth.
Rouse your power.
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
Once again, O LORD of hosts,
look down from heaven, and see;
Take care of this vine,
and protect what your right hand has planted
the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
May your help be with the man of your right hand,
with the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
Then we will no more withdraw from you;
give us new life, and we will call upon your name.
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

Alleluia Lk 3:4, 6

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths:
All flesh shall see the salvation of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mt 17:9a, 10-13

As they were coming down from the mountain,
the disciples asked Jesus,
“Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
He said in reply, “Elijah will indeed come and restore all things;
but I tell you that Elijah has already come,
and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased.
So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands.”
Then the disciples understood
that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.