Saturday of the Second Week of Advent
Interestingly today’s first reading and Gospel reference Elijah. The first reading from Sirach praises Elijah the prophet for doing what God called him to do. This passage can inspire us to reflect on God's call for us. We are reminded that, like with Elijah, God equips us with what we need to fulfill our call.
In the Gospel, Jesus used Elijah as a metaphor for John the Baptist. This conversation took place after the Transfiguration when the disciples saw Jesus with Moses and Elijah on the top of the mountain. The disciples learned that Jesus is the Son of God. When they came down from the mountain, they realized that they missed seeing John the Baptist as an Elijah-like figure who will turn people to Jesus. Sometimes life is like this. It's easy to see and hear God when we are at the top of the mountain or during peak prayer experiences, like Mass, Adoration, meditation, etc. The challenge is when we come down the mountain and go on with the rest of our day. Do we recognize Jesus then in the ordinariness of life? Do we miss seeing Jesus? When have we failed to listen or recognize God? Times of prayer should help us see God in the rhythm of life. For example, at Mass, we learn how to be a disciple of Jesus Christ from Scripture readings in the Liturgy of the Word and experience the risen Christ in the Eucharist. We then are to take what we’ve experienced and learned after Mass to go forth into the world with the Gospel. Mass (and all prayer) is not separate from the rest of our lives but nourishes us to live life. Likewise, the mountain top experience of the Transfiguration enabled the disciples to spread the Gospel even after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven.
During this Advent season, we are called to prepare ourselves for the birth of Christ. Christmas is not merely just one day or 12. It is a time when Christ can be born in us so that Christ can be born again and again in our lives and in lives of those we encounter. Have a blessed Advent.
-Sr. Emily Sandoval, FMI