December 13, 2025, Saturday of the Second Week of Advent
Lectionary #186, Matthew 17: 9a, 10-13
Scripture
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.
Reflection
When people don’t want something or are opposed to it, anything will suffice to contradict or block it from existence. The scribes refused to believe in Jesus as the Messiah for a straightforward reason: they said Elijah was to come before the Messiah, and lo and behold! Everyone knows that Elijah had not yet come. Look around, “they said.” Do you see Elijah?
The disciples of Jesus were more than a little confused. They too had not seen Elijah walking around and so were wondering about the Messiah. Christ responded, “Elijah is indeed coming and will restore all things.” This sentence repeated the old promise but said nothing about his having to come before the Messiah.
In the following sentence Christ speaks out the powerful word that bears the full strength of prophecy. It must have seemed like an earthquake to the disciples when Christ said, “But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but they did to him whatever they pleased.”
The Elijah who had already come was none other than John the Baptist himself. True, he was not the selfsame Elijah of the Old Testament, but he was the Elijah who was to come before the Messiah. “Lo, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes” (Malachi 4: 6).
John the Baptist had the honor of being the first witness to Christ. Are we to see his life as a grid and pattern for all witnesses of the Lord? John suffered in his preaching, but he did have the joy of greeting and announcing the Messiah. But, as our reading says, the authorities “did to him whatever they pleased.” He was too moral, too righteous (not self-righteous), too honest.
Furthermore, he announced the Messiah. More to the point, he announced this Messiah. These authorities took him out’ as easily as emptying sand from a sandal. John died for his beliefs. It was Pascal, I think, who said something about believing someone who gets strangled for his convictions’. Witnessing is hard work.
Matthew has another crucial word: “So also the Son of Man is about to suffer at their hands.” As John suffered and died, so also must the Messiah suffer and die.
The mystery of Christmas does not cancel out suffering. The Child in the crib has taken on our flesh, and that action alone speaks of suffering and death. The mystery of our salvation is one mystery, encompassing the incarnation of Christ in human form. If we believe and have become disciples, we also join the long line of witnesses and prophets who have lived their lives for the gospel. Many, as John and Christ, have died to bring God to earth.
The Lady who appeared at La Salette was seen in tears. She urged her people to do the will of her Son: “If my people will not submit.” She appeared because a witness had to appear. She spoke because a witness has to say. Her tears betrayed the pain of her life and of her heart. Like her Son, she too bore trials for Him and for her people, “How long have I suffered for you!… However much you pray, however much you do, you will never be able to recompense the pains I have taken for you.” We know a mother’s work is never done. Now, at La Salette, we know that even in heaven, a Mother’s suffering is never over.
La Salette Invocation
Our Lady of La Salette, reconciler of sinners,
pray without ceasing for us who have recourse to you.
