Saturday, December 14, 2002
2nd Week of Advent
1st Reading: Sir 48:1-4, 9-11
Gospel: Mt 17:10-13
The disciples asked Jesus, "Why do the teachers of the Law say that Elijah must come first?" And Jesus answered, "So it is: first comes Elijah to set everything as it has to be. But I tell you, Elijah has already come and they did not recognize him, but treated him as they pleased. And they will also make the Son of Man suffer."
Then the disciples understood that Jesus was referring to John the Baptist.
Commentary
This week, the liturgical readings have been full of reminders that Jesus was rejected, not recognized; resisted. The same happened to John the Baptist. Through what happened to John, Jesus learned to be realistic about his own likely fate: "And they will also make the Son of Man suffer." Today's gospel shows that Jesus was not recognized by the very ones who were waiting for him, the teachers of religion, the ones who knew what to expect and who taught others. This is a challenge to us who are waiting and searching for God. God is always coming, but don't look up, don't look far away. Look lower and nearer. God is easy to overlook, easy to walk over.