Restore All Things December 16

Saturday of the Second Week of Advent

How awesome are you, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds! Whose glory is equal to yours? Sirach 48:4

“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.” Matthew 17:

Piety

Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved. Look down from heaven, and see us in our sorry, sad post-modern state. Have pity on us sinners and take care of this vine that you planted. Give us the water of life so our branches may grow strong with the strength you gave to your Son. With your strength, this energy will draw us near to you in hope and happiness this Advent season. The closer we come, the further away we will be from the commercial interests which pull us in the opposite direction – the direction of disappointment and depression. As we move closer, give us new life, and we will call upon your name saying, “Here I am, Lord. I come to do your will.” Amen.

Study
http://www.usccb.org/nab/121606.shtml

How amazing it would be if we could pose our theology questions right to Jesus as the disciples did today coming down from the mountain. What would we ask if Jesus was in our midst again?

Today we have readings that remind us again of the expected the return of Elijah from heaven to prepare Israel for the final manifestation of God's kingdom. Jesus assures us in Matthew’s Gospel that this expectation was fulfilled in John the Baptist's ministry.

Great insights always seem to take place away from society…in the desert, on a mountain, on a boat in the middle of the sea. The Transfiguration and the lessons learned by the disciples in Gethsemane were no different.

Peter, James and John went off from the crowd with Jesus. They even left the rest of the disciples behind. The same thing happened in the Garden after the Last Supper when Jesus invited the same trio to stay awake with him. By their special witness, they begin to realize how God’s promises are being fulfilled just like we do when we hear these stories.

Being away from the crowd, Kierkegaard reminds us, allows truth to seep in more fully. The crowd in our society is synonymous with sin, inequity and mob action – all bad.

Jesus wants to work with us individually and in small groups. We see in the Gospels what happens to Jesus when Pilate turns to the crowds to pass judgment. Jesus does not want us in the crucifying crowd. He wants to answer our questions with the truth. One—on-one or in a small group with Peter, James and John. He wants us to seek out His star, His Light, His Word. He wants us to recognize the message that John and Elijah brought to us to prepare the way of the Lord. He wants us to recognize Him. He wants to answer us. Indeed, the Teacher awaits our question.

Action

Let us listen to Elijah’s message and that of John the Baptist in order to understand what we need to do. Unlike the crowds, we must not ignore the message of the prophets. Once we work on changing ourselves, how can we help others?

www.simpleliving.org Advent Calendar

Dec. 15
Set an example of “non-conforming freely” by using string or fabric shopping bags, a hand lawn mower, etc. Be a living witness. Show our own lifestyle changes. Give people the gift of a social justice magazine.

Dec. 16
Offer personal one-to-one testimonials, face-to-face, by letter or email. Speak up to adults or a child when “teachable moments” occur.