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Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11
Psalm 80:2AC & 3B, 15-16, 18-19
Matthew 17:9A, 10-13
Summary
The gospel takes place right after the transfiguration and discusses why the
scribes say that Elijah must come first. Jesus explains that Elijah had come, in the
form of John the Baptist, but went unrecognized.
Reflection
In reading this passage, we found it difficult to come up with something on
it. Right before this passage is the Transfiguration. A very WOW moment! Now,
they are walking right after that and start discussing the return of Elijah. Jesus
explains that he had already returned in John the Baptist and that the Son of Man
will also suffer at the hands of those who will question if Jesus is a prophet or the
Son of God .
So, prophets … who are they and how do we
recognize them? How do we treat them? A
prophet is a person who speaks for God or by di-
vine inspiration, spreading God’s word to those
around them, doing the work of God on earth.
As in the Old Testament, a prophet did not arrive
when things were good and the people of God
were doing His will. A prophet arrives to tell peo-
ple of their wrongdoings and of the change that
they need to make in their lives, in doing God’s
will, not the will of man.
There have been people in our lifetime who have
identified weaknesses in our world that need to
be corrected. Be it the caring for the poor, ac-
cepting of an individual as a brother or sister in
Christ no matter what the color of their skin may