10-Dec-15

Gospel MT 11:11-15
Jesus said to the crowds:
“Amen, I say to you,
among those born of women
there has been none greater than John the Baptist;
yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
From the days of John the Baptist until now,
the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence,
and the violent are taking it by force.
All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John.
And if you are willing to accept it,
he is Elijah, the one who is to come.
Whoever has ears ought to hear.”
Reflection:
At the time of this passage, John the Baptist had been imprisoned by King Herod for preaching repentance in preparation of the coming of the Lord.
Speaking about John, Jesus says, "And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who is to come."
Elijah was a great prophet that lived hundreds of years before Jesus' time on earth.
In the book of Malachi it is written: "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes."
Therefore, Jesus is saying that John the Baptist is in fact Elijah, who has come back to announce the coming of God into the world.
"Whoever has ears ought to hear.”
In the book of Kings, we read more about Elijah. The Lord instructed Elijah to stand on the mountain as He passed by. There was a great wind, an earthquake, and a fire, but God was not in any of them. Then came a still, small voice, and Elijah hears God and understands Him.
Our ears too "ought to hear."
If we, like Elijah, can ignore the noise of this world, and listen for the "still, small voice," we may also hear and understand our loving and gentle Lord who seeks to enter into our life.

"He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice...." - Isaiah 42:2-3