Readings: Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11 /
Matthew 17:9a, 10-13
Reflection
Coming down from the mountain of
Transfiguration, the disciples ask Jesus a legitimate question: "Why do
the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" They've just seen Elijah on
the mountain with Jesus. The prophecies say Elijah returns before the Messiah. So,
what's the deal? Jesus answers with stunning clarity: "Elijah will indeed
come and restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and
they did not recognise him but did to him whatever they pleased. So also, will
the Son of Man suffer at their hands." Then it clicks. John the Baptist
was Elijah. The fierce prophet in camel hair, eating locusts and honey, calling
people to repentance in the wilderness, that was Elijah, returned. And they
killed him. Beheaded him in Herod's prison because his truth made powerful
people uncomfortable. If they did that to the messenger, they would do worse to
the one the Messenger was talking about. God sends His prophets, and people miss
them, reject them, silence them. Not because the message is unclear, but
because it demands too much.
Sirach describes the original Elijah as fire: "Like a fire there appeared
the prophet Elijah whose words were as a flaming furnace." He shut up the
heavens for three years. He called down fire from heaven. He was taken up in a
whirlwind of flame, destined to return before the day of the Lord to "turn
back the hearts of fathers toward their sons" and restore the tribes of
Jacob. That's the Elijah they expected, powerful, dramatic, unmistakable,
forcing everyone to pay attention. John came in that same spirit and power.
Wild in the desert. Uncompromising in his message. Fearless before kings and
religious leaders. "Repent! The kingdom of heaven is at hand!" But
they didn't recognise him as Elijah returned. They said he had a demon. And
when his message got too uncomfortable for Herod, too threatening to the status
quo, they silenced him. Because people don't kill prophets for being wrong.
They kill them for being right at the wrong time, in the wrong way, to the
wrong people.
Jesus makes the connection explicit: what happened to John will happen to Me.
The same people who couldn't handle John's call to repentance won't be able to
handle My call to surrender everything. But here's what's stunning: Jesus walks
straight into it anyway. He doesn't soften the message to avoid the cross. He
doesn't compromise to save His life. He keeps speaking truth, keeps calling
people to restoration, keeps offering the Kingdom even to those who will
crucify Him for it. Because the mission matters more than the reception. The
truth matters more than comfort. Your salvation matters more than His
safety. Elijah came to turn hearts back to God. John came to prepare hearts for
the Messiah. Jesus came to save those hearts forever. And whether people
recognise it or not, whether they accept it or reject it, whether they worship
Him or crucify Him, the work of redemption moves forward. The question isn't
whether God will accomplish His purpose. The question is whether you'll
recognise Him when He shows up.
Franciscan
Reflection
Francis was called a fool, a madman, a
disgrace to his family. His own father dragged him before the bishop and
disowned him. The church leaders questioned his methods, his poverty, and his
radical obedience. He was misunderstood, dismissed, and sometimes feared. But like
John the Baptist, Francis kept preaching repentance and restoration. He kept
calling people back to the simplicity of the Gospel. He kept living what he
preached, even when it cost him everything. They didn't always recognise what
God was doing through Francis, just like they didn't recognise John. But God's
work doesn't require recognition. It requires obedience. Are you living the
truth even when people don't recognise it? Are you faithful to the call even
when it's misunderstood?
For
Your Reflection
Take your time with these questions.
See how they relate to you.
About Recognition:
- When has God shown up in your life in a way you
didn't recognise until later?
- What messenger or message from God have you
dismissed because it didn't fit your expectations?
- Are you still waiting for the "Elijah"
you want while missing the one God sent?
About John's Message:
- John called people to repentance with the uncomfortable truth. What uncomfortable truth is God speaking to you?
- Where are you resisting God's call because it's
too radical, too demanding, too different from what you planned?
- Have you ever killed a prophetic voice in your
life (dismissed a conviction, ignored a challenge) because it got too
uncomfortable?
About Jesus' Pattern:
- Jesus knew He'd face the same rejection as John,
but He kept moving forward. What rejection are you avoiding that God is calling you through?
- Where do you need to keep going even when people
don't understand, don't support, don't recognise what God's doing?
- Are you more concerned with being accepted or
being faithful?
About Restoration:
- Elijah came to turn the hearts of fathers to sons.
Where does your heart need to turn toward God? Toward family? Toward
truth?
- John prepared the way for Jesus. Who or what is
God using to prepare your heart right now?
- Are you willing to let God restore you even if the
process looks nothing like you expected?
Praying
the Joyful Mysteries
As you pray the rosary today, see how
God's messengers prepare the way:
The Annunciation - Gabriel comes to Mary. She recognises God's messenger
and says yes.
The Visitation - John leaps in Elizabeth's womb at Jesus' presence. Even
unborn, he knows. He recognises.
The Nativity - Shepherds recognise the Messiah in a manger. Wise men
recognise Him in a stable. The humble see what the proud miss.
The Presentation - Simeon and Anna recognise the baby as the salvation of
Israel. They've been waiting, watching, and they see.
Finding in the Temple - Jesus is about His Father's business. Do we recognise
Him even when He's not where we expect?
The Joyful Mysteries show us those who
recognised God's messengers and those who didn't. Mary said yes. Elizabeth
rejoiced. Shepherds ran to worship. Simeon blessed. But most people missed it.
Are you watching? Are you recognising? Or are you waiting for something more
impressive?
A
Quiet Challenge
This week, pay attention to the
prophetic voices in your life, the people, the promptings, the convictions that
call you to something more. Don't dismiss them because they're uncomfortable or
unexpected.
Maybe it's a friend who speaks the hard
truth in love. Maybe it's a stirring in your conscience about how you're
living. Maybe it's a call to change something you've been avoiding. Maybe it's
simply the still small voice of the Holy Spirit whispering in your prayer.
God still sends Elijahs. God still
raises up Johns. The question is: will you recognise them? Or will you do to
them what your comfort demands?
Ask yourself every day this week:
"Who is God speaking through today that I might be tempted to
dismiss?"
Closing
Pray this with an open heart:
"Lord Jesus, forgive me for the
times I've missed Your messengers because they didn't look like I expected.
Forgive me for dismissing the uncomfortable truth because it threatened my comfort.
Give me eyes to recognise Your voice even when it comes through unexpected
people, even when it calls me to hard things. Help me to be faithful like John,
bold like Elijah, obedient like Francis, not because people will understand,
but because You've called me. I don't want to miss what You're doing because
I'm waiting for something more impressive or more comfortable. Open my heart.
Prepare my way. Turn me back to You. In Jesus' Name, Amen."
Then ask:
- What uncomfortable truth have I been avoiding that
God keeps bringing up?
- Who is God using to speak to me that I've been
dismissing?
- Am I willing to be faithful even if no one
recognises what God's doing through me?
Elijah has already come. John prepared
the way. Jesus walked it. Now He's asking you to walk it too. Not when it's
comfortable. Not when people understand. Now. Today. Just as you are, with all
your mess and all your fear.
Will you recognise Him? Will you
follow Him? Or will you continue to wait?
Saturday of the Second Week of Advent
December 13, 2025
A Franciscan Reflection
©2025 James Dacey, Jr., OFS
