Reflections on Scripture | Saturday of the Second Week of Advent

Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

Choose either the video or audio below.

Gospel
Matthew 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.

Reflection

It's hard to imagine what it was like for the scribes, the Pharisees, the leaders of the temple to deal with this person, Jesus. He was so confusing. He was not able to claim anything that He had in terms of power by what He was doing.

In fact, He was doing things the opposite of what would seem in the eyes of the scribes and Pharisees to please God. So they were totally confused. But the interesting thing in their confusion, they did whatever they pleased. They acted according to what they saw to be true, and that was their greatest sin.

Closing Prayer

Father, if we're true to listening to the Gospel, and if we want what it's promising and want what we need to have in order to please you, we have to surrender to the things we cannot figure out. Bless us with this kind of ability to endure the confusion and not making decisions, but waiting for the fullness of revelation. God will show us all that we need to know and to see in order to choose the life that He's called us to live. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Kyle Cross