2nd Week of Advent
16th December 2023 (Saturday) Readings and Reflection
Psalter: Week 2
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11b
In those days: The prophet Elijah arose like a fire, and his word burned like a torch. He brought a famine upon them, and by his zeal he made them few in number. By the word of the Lord he shut up the heavens, and also three times brought down fire. How glorious you were, O Elijah, in your wondrous deeds! And who has the right to boast that which you have? You who were taken up by a whirlwind of fire in a chariot with horses of fire; you who are ready at the appointed time, it is written, to calm the wrath of God before it breaks out in fury, to turn the heart of the father to the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob. Blessed are those who saw you and those who have been fallen asleep in love.
Psalm 80:2ac and 3b, 15-16а, 18- 19 (R. 4)
R/. O God, bring us back; let your face shine on us, and we shall be saved.
Alleluia
V/. Alleluia R/. Alleluia
V/. Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
R/. Alleluia
Gospel : Matthew 17:10-13
As they were coming down the mountain, the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will 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 the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Highlight: To Regain and Restore!
Guidlines: God never ceases to come to us or act in our lives. But very often many do not recognize this. And so they complain or conclude that God is no more active or caring{alertSuccess}
1. Today’s readings highlight the figure of Elijah. Undoubtedly he was an outstanding prophet. Glorious was his mission and wondrous were his deeds. He stood for God against false gods. He did the work of God amidst all challenges.
2. He was zealous amidst all mediocrity. His fire was burning the hearts. He was a calmer of the wrath of God. He was a restorer of the estranged and strayed. He was the benefactor of God’s abundant blessings to the humble.
3. John the Baptist very much resembles Elijah. In fact, he is the Elijah of the New Testament. Like Elijah, he is fiery with his urge for repentance and conversion. Like Elijah, he is on the mission of restoring all things. But, sadly people did not accept his message. They also did away with him.
4. Similar would be the fate of Jesus as well. He came to restore the lost dignity and the lost relationship with God and with one another. But people did not recognize his divine identity. They were not pleased with his teaching and also his way of life.
5. They felt challenged and questioned. He was a question mark to their hypocrisy and shallow authority. He posed a threat to their compromising and dichotomous life.
6. Therefore, they would reject him, persecute and kill him. What is our response and responsibility in the face of their fate and destiny? It is not only knowing about their mission and the eventual fate meted out to them. It is not only to feel sad about their sad end. It is not only to feel angry and condemn them.
7. Now, how often do we too fail to know and recognize Jesus and also various other prophets? How often do we take for granted God working in and through them? How often do we neglect and even reject God’s invitation for repentance and transformation?
Practice: Be restored! This can be one recurrent message of the holy Advent. Yes, it is the right time to restore our broken grace, broken virtue, broken relationship with God, and our broken loyalty to Him.{alertSuccess}