2nd Week of Advent, Saturday – 11th December 2021 — Gospel: Mt 17,10-13
Disciples’ Understanding
After the transfiguration event, Jesus links John the Baptist to the return of Elijah, and in doing so, He links Himself with the Day of the Lord. Since Jesus’ answer to the disciples’ question confirms that Elijah has indeed returned and he has returned in the person of John the Baptist. When Jesus expressed that he, the Messiah, will suffer the same fate, it seems the disciples understood the meaning of Jesus’ words all at once, in a moment. Here, Jesus did not explicitly identify John the Baptist with Elijah, although He was speaking of John the Baptist when He spoke of Elijah having come. The disciples didn’t understand entirely, but their slowness didn’t keep Jesus from trying to help them along. He reminded them gently and clearly that the Son of Man would suffer. He had not come to establish a worldly kingdom but through His suffering, He will lead us to the kingdom of heaven that will have no end.
