Saturday of the 2nd week of Advent (Year I)
Ecclesiasticus 48:1-4,9-12 | Psalm 79(80):2-3,15-16,18-19 | Matthew 17:10-13

Today’s Word talks about Elijah, the great prophet who worked many miracles in his time, and who was to return and herald the “great and terrible day of the Lord” (Malachi 3:19). Jesus even points to John the Baptist as the spiritual successor of Elijah.

So he’s one of a kind then? No, for we too are called to be Elijahs of our time.

Why is that? Because “Elijah” literally means “my God is the Lord”, a name filled with intent to proclaim the greatness and goodness of the I AM.

So how do we go about this then? For starters, we don’t have to put ourselves out trying to work miracles like Elijah, miracles which this world would probably pooh-pooh anyway.

Instead, we proclaim through our words of love, backed up by our deeds of love. Feeding the hungry, slaking the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, etc. (Matthew 25:35-40)

As we prepare to welcome our new-born King, let us proclaim to all in no uncertain terms:

Elijah! My God is the Lord!

Amen.