REFLECTIONS TODAY
Right after the transfiguration event, the disciples ask Jesus about the coming of Elijah, expected to be the harbinger of the Day of Judgment and will restore the right relationship within the family and society so as to avoid the utter destruction of the land.
This last word in the Book of the Prophets is therefore a warning, the last word in the Old Testament (Mal 3:24). Here, Jesus’ mention of John the Baptist, whom the Jewish detractors accuse of being possessed by the devil, makes the disciples refer to Elijah, because many people think that John is the new Elijah.
Jesus says that John is indeed Elijah and John’s mission of calling people to repentance and of baptizing them in the Jordan River is none other than to “restore all things” (v 11) to the Lord. But John has detractors among the religious and political leaders, and Herod Antipas has John imprisoned and put to death.
John’s witness to Jesus involves pointing him as the Lamb of God and shedding his blood for standing to the truth. Jesus gives John the highest accolade when he says, “Among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist” (Mt 11:11).
John is the bridge between the time of expectation and the time of fulfillment when Jesus comes. So “the least in the kingdom of heaven (in the time of fulfillment) is greater than he” (Mt 11:11).
Gospel • Matthew 17:9a, 10-13
As they were coming down from the mountain, the disciples asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” He said in reply, “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.” Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.
Source: “366 Days with the Lord 2024,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.