HOMILY ADVENT WEEK 02 06 – Year II
Being Elijah for Others:
Optional Memorial of St. Damasus I
(Sirach 48:1-11; Ps 80; Mt 17:10-13)
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Do you see yourself as a prophet?
The readings today invite us to be both Elijah and John the Baptist for others.
Both the first reading from Sirach and the gospel focus on Elijah. Elijah was the great prophet of the Old Testament, well deserving of the praise Sirach heaps upon him. He performed miracles, was assumed into heaven prefiguring the assumption of Mary, spoke truth to power, confronted the false prophets of Baal, was sent to restore parental love in the family, mandated to renew the faith of Israel in the covenant, and in an indirect way, prepared the way for Christ.
In the gospel, Jesus identifies John the Baptist as Elijah who was to come again. We know that John broke away from the established corrupt religious system of temple worship at the time, even though his father Zechariah was a priest within that system, and spoke truth to power, first confronting the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, then confronting Herod at the cost of his life. John also called people to reform and return to God through a baptism of water and repentance. And of course, his was the task of announcing the coming of Jesus Christ on the scene, making him the last and greatest prophet. Because of him, many people turned back to God, and many became his disciples.
Each of us can look back into our lives and find there, prophets – Elijahs and John the Baptists – who influenced us positively, who taught us, inspired us, touched us in some way, and called us to be our best selves. I remember Peter, a Chinese fellow-university student, who challenged my nonchalant way of living at the time by sharing with me his philosophy of life. That jarred me into thinking more seriously about my life and my way of living as a student. He was Elijah and John the Baptist for me.
At the Scholasticate, my spiritual director, Adam Exner OMI, now archbishop emeritus, heard my story (a first for me), and asked me to pray with Isaiah 43:1-4 for a whole month. When I did that, I heard God saying to me for the first time, “Sylvain, you are precious and honored in my sight because I love you.”
At that time, I was already a budding workaholic trying to earn my father’s love (and indirectly God’s love as well). What struck me forcibly was that I was loved not for anything I had done, but simply because God loved me! And that, I can honestly say, was the beginning of my life-long healing journey. Adam was also truly Elijah and John the Baptist for me.
As Christmas approaches, some of us may be among those for whom Christmas hurts, and feeling some trepidation. Perhaps some family members are not talking to each other, or one member has alienated him or herself from the family, or some crisis or problem is casting a shadow over what should be a joyous time. We may not be able to do much about such situations, but we can always pray with confidence that God will send some Elijah or John the Baptist to bring healing to the person or persons we are most concerned about.
At the same time, we need to realize that we are disciples of Jesus Christ, called to be salt to the earth and light for the world, filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, striving to live the commandments to love God, others, ourselves and all of God’s creation, and that perhaps we are the ones who can be Elijah or John the Baptist for others. I am often deeply touched, moved, feel humbled and affirmed at some of the comments that come to me about a homily that has been sent out. There is much joy in thinking that perhaps in some small way I have been Elijah or John the Baptist for someone else.
Today the Church invites us to honor Pope Damasus, who was born in Rome about 305. His father, who was likely of Spanish descent, was a priest. Damasus also became a priest and in 366 was chosen pope, an office he fulfilled until his death in 384. He presided over the Council of Rome in 382 that determined the canon or official list of Sacred Scripture. He spoke out against major heresies in the church, including Apollinarianism and Macedonianism, and commissioned St. Jerome to translate the Bible into Latin, a version known as the Vulgate. He helped reconcile relations between the Church of Rome and the Church of Antioch, and encouraged the veneration of martyrs. He was Elijah and John the Baptist for the whole church!
Elijah was fed by a raven in the desert. John the Baptist lived on locusts and wild honey in the wilderness. The Eucharist is manna for the journey into the wilderness and desert of our society by which God nourishes us, through Word and Sacrament, to be prophetic in communicating the unconditional love of God that Jesus Christ shared with us.
May our celebration empower us to be Elijah and John the Baptist to those who this Christmas may need that healing touch they brought to the people of their time, and that we are called to bring to our world today, as did St. Pope Damasus.
