Elijah and John
Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11; Psalm 80; Matthew 17:10-13
The first reading speaks of Elijah. It tells us of all he did and makes us understand that the prophet Elijah will come again. Correspondingly, Jesus remarked in the Gospel, “Elijah has come already, and they did not recognize him.”
Two persons are inferred from the above: the Prophet Elijah in the Old Testament and John the Baptist in the New Testament. The Jewish interpretation confused the two events and the two personages, reducing them to one. Though John had all the traits of Elijah, John is not Elijah reincarnated.
Today, some still believe in reincarnation. The doctrine of the Church teaches that when our earthly life is completed, we shall not return to other earthly lives. Hebrews 9:27 says, “It is appointed for men once to die, and after that comes judgment.
Therefore, there is no reincarnation after death. Elijah did not come again; rather, John rose in the spirit, character, and mission of Elijah. St. John of the Cross, whose memorial we celebrate today did the same. We, too, are challenged by this message to rise in the spirit and character of John the Baptist.
Let us pray
Grant that your people, we pray, almighty God, may be ever watchful for the coming of your Only Begotten Son, that, as the author of our salvation himself has taught us, we may hasten, alert and with lighted lamps, to meet him when he comes. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever? Amen.
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
