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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider Elijah will indeed come

Elijah will indeed come

Published Dec 13, 2025 12:05 am  |  Updated Dec 12, 2025 06:30 pm
REFLECTIONS TODAY
The Jews believed that the coming of God’s Kingdom would be preceded by the return of the prophet Elijah from heaven where he was carried in a chariot of fire.
The notion rests on the prophecy of Malachi, the last words in the Old Testament, “Now I am sending to you Elijah the prophet, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and terrible day; he will turn the heart of fathers to their sons, and the heart of sons to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with destruction” (Mal 3:23-24).
For the scribes who interpret this literally, Jesus cannot be the awaited Messiah simply because Elijah has not yet made his spectacular appearance.
Jesus tells them that Malachi’s prophecy has been realized in the coming of John the Baptist, but the authorities did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased (he was put to death by the order of Herod Antipas).
Elijah might have survived the threats against his life, but only with God’s direct intervention. When asked by the Lord why he was in a cave on Mount Horeb, the prophet answered, “The Israelites have forsaken your covenant.
They have destroyed your altars and murdered your prophets by the sword. I alone remain, and they seek to take my life” (1 Kgs 19:14). Jesus says that he will share the fate of John the Baptist: he will not be recognized (as the Messiah), he will be handed to evil men, and he will be put to death.
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: “365 Days with the Lord 2025,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
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