December 14, 2013

Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church 
Lectionary: 186
Reading 1 SIR 48:1-4, 9-11

In those days,
like a fire there appeared the prophet Elijah
whose words were as a flaming furnace.
Their staff of bread he shattered,
in his zeal he reduced them to straits;
By the Lord’s word he shut up the heavens
and three times brought down fire.
How awesome are you, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds!
Whose glory is equal to yours?
You were taken aloft in a whirlwind of fire,
in a chariot with fiery horses.

Elijah was an awesome Prophet.  One of two Old Testament Prophets who were assumed into heaven.  He was a loyal servant of God's to whose prayers God listened.

You were destined, it is written, in time to come
to put an end to wrath before the day of the LORD,
To turn back the hearts of fathers toward their sons,
and to re-establish the tribes of Jacob.
Blessed is he who shall have seen you
and who falls asleep in your friendship.

This is a reference to the coming of St. John the Baptist, the Precursor who prepared the way of Jesus Christ.  When he came, it was metaphorically said that Elijah had returned.

St. John of the Cross, whose feast we celebrate today, is another St. John.  He came much later in Church history and is famous for his deep spirituality.  He wrote the interpretation of the Song of Songs known as the "Spiritual Canticle".  He also wrote about the "Dark Night of the Soul".

Responsorial Psalm PS 80:2AC AND 3B, 15-16, 18-19

R. (4) Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
O shepherd of Israel, hearken,
From your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth.
Rouse your power.

R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
Once again, O LORD of hosts,
look down from heaven, and see;
Take care of this vine,
and protect what your right hand has planted
the son of man whom you yourself made strong.

R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
May your help be with the man of your right hand,
with the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
Then we will no more withdraw from you;
give us new life, and we will call upon your name.
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

Without God's grace, we can do nothing.  It is God who first calls us and gives us the grace to respond to Him.  Without this first call, we would die in our sins.

Gospel MT 17:9A, 10-13

As they were coming down from the mountain,
the disciples asked Jesus,
“Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
He said in reply, “Elijah will indeed come and restore all things;
but I tell you that Elijah has already come,
and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased.
So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands.”
Then the disciples understood
that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

Jesus refers to St. John the Baptist as the second coming of Elijah.  St. John was known for his powerful preaching of the Word of God.  Elijah was renowned for the fact that by his word, God sealed the heavens and poured down fire upon the altar of Baal.