Elijah, John, and the Face of God
December 14, 2024 - Saturday, Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11; Psalm 80:2ac and 3b, 15-16, 18-19; Matt 17:9a, 10-13
Today’s readings draw us to three moments in salvation history that echo God’s promise to guide, protect, and redeem His people. The oldest among these readings is Psalm 80, probably originally a lament over the destruction of the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 721 BC at the hands of the Assyrian empire. The meditation on Elijah that we hear in the first reading comes from the Book of Sirach, written around 180 BC in Hebrew and translated into Greek around 132 BC. Finally, we turn to the second half of the first century of Christian area as we hear a passage from Matthew's Gospel.
The author of the Book of Sirach meditates on the awe-inspiring figure of Elijah, a prophet known for his zeal in leading Israel back to faithfulness. Elijah’s acts, from calling down fire to raising the dead, illustrate a powerful, uncompromising defense of Israel’s covenant with God. He was a defender of monotheism, urging Israel to abandon the worship of foreign gods and return to the God of their fathers. Though his methods may seem extreme to us today, the vision behind Elijah’s zeal was the same: to prepare the hearts of Israel to encounter the living God.
Elijah’s role, according to Sirach and Jewish tradition, did not end with his ascent into heaven. His return was prophesied, a sign that would precede the coming of the Lord and usher in an age of renewal and reconciliation (Sirach 48:11; see Malachi 3:23-24). And it was this belief in Elijah's return that led to the apostles' question: "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" (Matt. 17:10).
Jesus responds to His disciples’ questions about Elijah, revealing that John the Baptist has indeed fulfilled the role of the promised Elijah. John’s life and mission paralleled Elijah’s in many ways: he called for repentance, ministered near the Jordan, and became a precursor to the Messiah. Yet, unlike Elijah, John’s approach was nonviolent, a prophetic witness without the dramatic miracles of his predecessor.
Jesus explains that John’s fate—his rejection and martyrdom—also prefigures His own, underscoring a deeper spiritual connection between the two missions. The Gospels begin with the ministry of the Baptist—his call to repentance and his testimony about Jesus—and our Lord begins His ministry after John was arrested (see Mark 1:14). Moreover, the one who rejected John would also reject Jesus, and the one who accepted John's message would come to believe in Jesus. How does Psalm 80 fit between these two readings that focus on Elijah and John the Baptist?
The psalmist portrays God as a shepherd who once led His people with care, a cultivator who planted Israel like a vine. But then, the Shepherd and Gardener removed His protection, allowing Israel to face the consequences of its sins. And so, the psalmist appeals to God’s mercy: "Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved" (Psalm 80:4). John's ministry led many Israelites to turn to God, and on Christmas Day in Bethlehem, the world could see the face of God and be saved.
As we prepare ourselves for Christmas, let us make the cry of the psalmist our own: "Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved" (Psalm 80:4). May the ministries of Elijah and John the Baptist lead us to repentance and faith, so that, renewed in heart, we can come to Bethlehem and behold the face of God in the baby Jesus and be saved. Amen.