SEND ELIJAH BEFORE MY DAY COMES

PRAYER PAUSE  

Saturday 23 December 2017

SEND ELIJAH BEFORE MY DAY COMES

Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “Know that I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before my day comes, that great and terrible day.”  (Malachy 3: 1 … 24)

Reflection. Israel expected Elijah to return to prepare the way of the Messiah. John the Baptist was that Elijah although curiously he denies it in John’s gospel (1:21), preferring to be known simply as the voice that would die away in the desert and leave only the Word. John the Baptist has a central role in announcing Jesus – a role which every Christian has in the witness of their life. But Elijah was not the only one who would return. Jesus too will return at the completion of history to gather together the people of God into the kingdom of the Father. That day is the one we are looking to and the whole task of political, economic, social and cultural life is to listen to the voice of the Spirit, whether we recognise it as such or not, for the attainment of that day.

Prayer. Lord, as we celebrate your birth among us, may we come to know you more and may our love give us the energy to follow your way so that your kingdom may come in the world. Amen.