THE PRELUDE TO GLORY
“How awesome are you, Elijah! Whose glory is equal to yours?” –Sirach 48:4
Mass Readings: December 16
First: Sirach 48:1-4,9-11; Resp: Psalm 80:2-3,15-16,18-19; Gospel: Matthew 17:10-13
Listen to the Mass Readings
The ministry of Elijah preceded the coming of Jesus at His Incarnation, is preceding Christ’s coming this Christmastime, and will precede His final coming at the end of the world. Elijah’s ministry is to re-establish God’s people (Sir 48:10) and to restore all things (Mt 17:11). Consequently, at this time before Christ’s Christmas coming, the following three prophecies of Isaiah are being fulfilled by new Elijahs:
- “Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove the stumbling blocks from My people’s path” (Is 57:14).
- “The ancient ruins shall be rebuilt for your sake, and the foundations from ages past you shall raise up; ‘Repairer of the breach,’ they shall call you, ‘Restorer of ruined homesteads’ ” (Is 58:12).
- “They shall rebuild the ancient ruins, the former wastes they shall raise up and restore the ruined cities, desolate now for generations” (Is 61:4).
This is a time of hope and joy. New Elijahs are coming to do the miraculous. Then Jesus will come to do the divine. We are being overwhelmed with God’s blessings (see Dt 28:2) and amazed by His grace. The Lord is doing more than we can ever ask for or imagine (Eph 3:20). “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it so much as dawned on man what God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Cor 2:9). “Despite the increase of sin, grace has far surpassed it” (Rm 5:20). “Rejoice in the Lord” (Phil 4:4). Elijah is coming.
PRAYER: Father, may I “rejoice with inexpressible joy touched with glory” (1 Pt 1:8).
PROMISE: “Till like a fire there appeared the prophet whose words were as a flaming furnace.” —Sir 48:1
PRAISE: Praying together restored Stephan’s hurting family.
