THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Thursday of second week of Advent, 2021

Isa 41:13-20

Ps 145

Matt 11:11-15

St Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin

No one greater than John

Dear friends in Christ, God reassures his people of divine help, and in John, that help was at hand as he came to introduce the Messiah. St Juan Diego, received the vision of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the Tepeyac hill in Mexico and through the purity of his Faith, his humility and fervor got the Bishop to do what the Mother of God had asked— a church built in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. He devoted his life to the care of the sanctuary and the reception of pilgrims. This apparition and devotion led to the conversion of many to the true faith.

In today’s first reading (Isaiah 41:13-20) God assures his people of divine support, “Fear not, I will help you. Fear, not you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I will help you, says the Lord; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel!” The prophet uses the imagery of a threshing sled to explain how God will transform a weak people into a major force among their enemies described as mountains, but who will be threshed and then blown away by the wind like chaff. On that day, the prophet says, the people will rejoice in their God who is their glory. God will not stop at the victory over their enemies but will also make provisions for their feeding and cause pools and rivers to spring up on the bare heights and the valleys. Isaiah says the people will themselves understand that only God can make this possible. In our times of trouble and doubts, faith in a God who has done it again and again for his people is a sure foundation for hope.

In the Gospel (Matthew 11:11-15) Jesus lifted the veil on the age-long wait for the one who is to introduce the Messiah to Israel. The people had expected the return of the prophet Elijah—the great prophet who was taken up in a chariot of fire and was expected to return and prepare the way for the Messiah. Jesus declared, “Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist, yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” As powerful and esteemed as John may be, Jesus assures us that what is needed to be greater than John is to make it to the kingdom of heaven. He goes further, “For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John; and if you are willing to accept it, He is Elijah who is to come.” At meals, faithful Jews prepare a place for Elijah, prepare his cup and open the window to allow him to come to dine with them. Elijah however did not come on the chariot but through a natural birth by aged parents. A mystery that is hard to connect to all they have heard about the fiery prophet. Just as they failed to recognize him in the simplicity of his birth and upbringing, they failed to recognize Jesus too. Are we doing the same?

Let us pray: O God, give us the grace to truly welcome Jesus into our homes and lives that he may also bring us home to our eternal abode. Amen. 

+Remain blessed