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Gospel Reading for December 13, 2025 – Matthew 17: 9a, 10-13
EXPECTATIONS
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.
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The scribes did not accept Jesus as the Messiah because Malachi 4: 5-6a states: “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents;”
Jesus referred to John the Baptist as the Elijah who had already come and was not recognized, and who had to suffer at their hands. The same thing would happen to Jesus because they did not recognize him too.
If our faith and trust in God is truly strong, we will not have EXPECTATIONS. We will not fail to recognize people he sends to us each day, WHOEVER and HOWEVER. And because we believe they are God-sent, we welcome them into our lives, listening and collaborating with them.
Lord Jesus, may we always recognize the time of your visitation!
