Prophets of Fire

December 11, Saturday

SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT

 

In the Old Testament, the prophet Elijah is the “prophet of fire,” a fiery, zealous personality who makes fire come down on the enemies of God. He wanted to prepare the hearts of the people to accept God.

In the New Testament, the “prophet of fire,” the new Elijah, was John the Baptist. Full of zeal, he wanted to prepare the hearts of the people to accept Jesus as the saving Messiah. Who is calling us to conversion today and opening our hearts to make Christ alive in us? It is the Spirit of fire, who wants us to do with great zeal and love the work of Christ, that is, to bring the love, peace and justice of God in today’s world. Do we let the Spirit kindle that fire in us?

 

First Reading: Sirach 48:1-4,9-11

And now listen to this, family of Jacob, you who are called by the name Israel: Who got you started in the loins of Judah, you who use God’s name to back up your promises and pray to the God of Israel? Do you see what I’ve done? I’ve refined you, but not without fire. I’ve tested you like silver in the furnace of affliction. Out of myself, simply because of who I am, I do what I do. I have my reputation to keep up. I’m not playing second fiddle to either gods or people.

 

Gospel: Matthew 17:10-13

The disciples, meanwhile, were asking questions. “Why do the religion scholars say that Elijah has to come first?”

Jesus answered, “Elijah does come and get everything ready. I’m telling you, Elijah has already come but they didn’t know him when they saw him. They treated him like dirt, the same way they are about to treat the Son of Man.” That’s when the disciples realized that all along he had been talking about John the Baptizer.

 

Prayer

Lord, our God,
let us never become indifferent
to the ardent message
which your Son speaks to us in the Gospel.
When we have become inattentive and uninvolved,
send us again prophets to wake us up
and to make us receptive again,
to make your kingdom among us a reality
For love of you and of people,

may we work for justice
and awaken others to love. Amen.

 

Reflection:

Do I turn a deaf ear to the prophetic voices?

Today the Gospel speaks of the disciples who had experienced the beatific vision of Jesus. As they walked down the hill after the dramatic vision, Jesus gives them a warning:

“They will make the Son of Man suffer.” Jesus predicted his suffering, perhaps to prepare his disciples for the shock.  But they couldn’t digest what he just told them because they had just seen Moses and Elijah with Jesus during His Transfiguration.  They have had a glimpse of the glory of Jesus and are probably beginning to understand that God is breaking into their existence in the person of Jesus. But then, they are a confused lot as well.

It would seem strange but true, that humans often recognise the worth of a person not when he is still alive but only after his death. In spite of acting and speaking on behalf of God, invariably every prophet of the Old Testament was assassinated. Israelites recognised the worth of their prophets only years after killing them.

They have waited for the Messiah but also believed that before the Messiah comes, Elijah would appear to prepare the way for his coming. But, as usual the people did not recognise the prophet – the Baptiser. Finally, he got killed for calling for changes in behaviour of those in powers that be.

Now Jesus tells his disciples that the baptiser was the expected Elijah who was to come to prepare for the coming of the Messiah. Elijah was a powerful prophet of the Old Testament, but as usual, people of his time failed to recognise him. He was persecuted by his fellow-Jews for having fought idolatry, risked his life before the wrath of Queen Jezebel and even wished for death.

People of Jesus time who moved with him and listened to him never realised that they were going through the most blessed time in the human history. They had the privilege to walk with, talk to, listen to and experience God himself personally. But unfortunately, as it happened with every other prophet, the people, especially those qualified religious scholars and the chief priests of the temple failed to recognise him and still worse, handed him over to the Romans to be tortured and killed.

Are there occasions in my life where I turn a deaf ear to the prophetic voices which calls for my attention and action. Advent brings the call for conversion. Which area in my life needs a conversion? How do I respond to the voices of prophets in the Church, in the community or in the family?

Video available on Youtube : Do I turn a deaf ear to the prophetic voices?