Homily For Saturday the Second Week of Advent Year B, 16th December, 2023

Reading: Sir. 48:1-4.9-12; Ps 80; Matt. 17:10-13

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

EMBRACING THE MESSAGE OF THE PROPHET

 

In our societies today people often desire to hear the message from the prophet to know what God is saying as regards their situation in life. This is the disposition of the people at the time of Jesus. Little wonder in our Gospel passage today we heard how the disciples of Jesus after their experience of the Lord’s transfiguration, as they were coming down from the mountains, asked Jesus: why do the scribes say then that Elijah has to come first?’ ‘True;’ he replied ‘Elijah is to come to see that everything is once more as it should be; however, I tell you that Elijah has come already and they did not recognise him but treated him as they pleased; and the Son of Man will suffer similarly at their hand.

 

Here a reference is made to John the Baptist, the one who was the Herald of the Messiah, the one who prepared the path for the Lord Jesus as predicted by the prophets. So, Jesus mentioned how John was the fulfilment of those prophecies, and indeed, his works and ministry had prepared the path for his coming into this world. Meanwhile, John the Baptist has often been compared with the prophet Elijah because both of them have some similarities, they lived similarly, travelling in the wilderness, proclaiming repentance and the coming of God’s salvation as we heard about prophet Elijah in our first reading today.

 

Indeed, John the Baptist can be likened to the prophet Elijah sent into the world to finish the works that Elijah had once initiated. Though, John the Baptist had the spirit of the prophet Elijah, which was not the same as being the same person, both by that extension had the same ministry among the people of God, and they used the same approach and efforts to pass the message of God to his people. Both suffered because of their teaching and mission. Jesus also would face the same reality.

 

Dear friends, today we are called to reflect on the lives and mission of these two great prophets especially in this Advent season so that we too may become more faithful by following their examples and faith. We do not need to keep waiting for prophets to come again rather we should embrace the message these great prophets have for us. And their message is quite simple, they are calling us to repentance, they are calling us to love, they are calling us to make the path of our lives straight, they are calling us to embrace the Lord Jesus and the gift of salvation he is offering us this season.

 

LET US PRAY: Heaven Father, as we listen to your words through your prophets calling us to repentance, love and preparation, may we embrace your word and so prepare our hearts for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen. Do have a blessed weekend.