In the spirit and power of Elijah

19 DECEMBER (Lk 1,5-25)

The Lord needs a strong and bold person, able to awaken the sleepy and dozing consciences; ready to raise from their slumber all dumb dogs, that no longer know how to bark even before a wolf that comes to devour his sheep. The prophet Elijah was a strong, bold and fearless person. The methods of his mission were proverbial in Israel. They were also God’s desire for every one of his prophets.

Till like a fire there appeared the prophet whose words were as a flaming furnace. Their staff of bread he shattered, in his zeal he reduced them to straits; By God’s word he shut up the heavens and three times brought down fire. How awesome are you, ELIJAH! Whose glory is equal to yours? You brought a dead man back to life from the nether world, by the will of the Lord. You sent kings down to destruction, and nobles, from their beds of sickness. You heard threats at Sinai, at Horeb avenging judgments. You anointed kings who should inflict vengeance, and a prophet as your successor. You were taken aloft in a whirlwind, in a chariot with fiery horses. You are destined, it is written, in time to come to put an end to wrath before the day of the Lord, To turn back the hearts of fathers toward their sons, and to reestablish the tribes of Jacob. Blessed is he who shall have seen you before he dies (Sir 48,1-11).

God can accomplish his every dream and desire. Today, he accomplishes it creating a second Elijah, a second person; who, however, must not do what Elijah did. Never might history be repeated, for what was yesterday, will never be today. Yesterday, it was yesterday. Today, it is today. Today, God creates so strong a person as to awaken in Israel, his people, a real desire for salvation, redemption, conversion to his Lord, that is about to come.

In the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years. Once when he was serving as priest in his division’s turn before God, according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense. Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering, the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense. Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of (the) Lord. He will drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb, and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.” Then Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel said to him in reply, “I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.” Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was gesturing to them but remained mute. Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home. After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying, “So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others.”

For no one to doubt that this is his true creation, the Lord makes use of two just and holy people; however, one was barren and both were advanced in years, naturally unable to generate any life. In addition, in the same announcement of the conception and birth, the Lord reveals to the father Zechariah that the son that will come to the light from him will be filled with the Holy Spirit and will come with the strength and power of Elijah. He will be a new Elijah, that must lead all of his people to God.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints make us strong in the faith.