At the beginning
of chapter 17 in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus took his three disciple, Peter,
James, and John, up to a high mountain. There, he was transfigured, an event
marking a significant moment in their journey. This passage in today's Gospel
follows that profound experience. After the transfiguration, Jesus instructed
them not to reveal their vision until the 'Son of Man rises from the dead.'
Despite witnessing this miraculous event, the disciples struggled to grasp its
full meaning; their curiosity was piqued even more.
The Role of
Elijah in Jewish Tradition:
In Jewish tradition, Elijah, a great prophet, was expected to return before the
coming of the Messiah. The disciples' question reflects this belief, asking why
the scribes say Elijah must come first. This reveals their struggle to
understand the relationship between Jesus' ministry and traditional Jewish
expectations of the Messiah.
Jesus'
Response and the Identity of John the Baptist: Jesus acknowledges the expectation of Elijah's
return but also clarifies that Elijah has already come in the person of John
the Baptist. This response serves as a profound revelation: the old prophecies
have been fulfilled, but not in the way many expected. John the Baptist
prepared the way for Jesus, just as Elijah was expected to prepare the way for
the Messiah.
The Suffering
of John the Baptist and Jesus:
Jesus draws a parallel between the suffering of John the Baptist and His own
impending suffering. Just as John faced rejection and martyrdom, so too would
Jesus. This connection highlights the cost of prophetic ministry and the path
of suffering that often accompanies the fulfillment of God's plans.
Understanding
God's Plan: As Christians,
we are invited to recognize that God's plans may not align with human
expectations. Just as the disciples struggled to understand Jesus' role as the
Messiah, we too might find that God's ways are not our ways. Therefore, we can
say that today’s Gospel call us to be open to the unexpected ways God can work
in the world. Elijah's "return" in the person of John the Baptist was
unconventional. It reminds us that God often works outside human expectations.
The Path of
Suffering: This Gospel also
serves as a reminder for us to learn to take up our cross daily and follow Christ.
The sufferings of John the Baptist and Jesus illustrate that following God's
will may involve hardship and sacrifice. But at the end, something beautiful,
great, joyful, rewarding will come out of any sacrifice we accept to endure for
the sake of Christ and his Gospel. It is therefore a call to Prophetic Witnessing
in Today's World: Christians are called to be prophetic voices in our own
contexts, to speak truth to powers of this world and prepare the way for God's
kingdom, much like John the Baptist.
As we reflect on
this passage, consider how God might be calling you to embrace unexpected paths
or to stand firm in the face of challenges. How can you be a prophetic voice in
your own community, place of living, of working, marketplace, etc? How can you
find strength and hope in Jesus' example of faithful obedience and sacrificial
love?
Closing Prayer
Lord, help us to understand Your ways, even when they
diverge from our expectations. Give us the courage to be prophetic voices in
our world, following the example of John the Baptist and Jesus. Teach us to
embrace the path You have laid out for us, even when it involves suffering or
sacrifice. Amen.
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The liberty with which Jesus handled criticism should inspire us.
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