Saturday 15 December

Sir 48 1-4. 9-11, Ps 80, Matthew 17:9a.10-13

Loyalty

Both Elijah and John the Baptist feature in today’s readings. Both had trouble with powerful women. Elijah won a spiritual battle with the prophets of the pagan god Baal. Jezebel, the wife of the King Ahaz threatened to kill Elijah, who quickly scampered off. (1Kings 19). Today Elijah is praised for his work. He assumed greater importance when the prophets predicted that he would return to usher in the messianic era. Elijah did return in the form of John the Baptist. John too suffered for his fidelity to the law and was beheaded at Herodias’ request. Both prophets are like Jesus who suffered because he opposed evil. Am I prepared to stand up for what is right?