Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening

25 SEPTEMBER (Lk 9,7-9)

Who is Jesus? Is he Elijah? Has any of the old prophets risen in him? Is he John risen from the dead? We know that Elijah was taken up in a chariot of fire. A unique and exceptional fact in all of Scripture. His body was never found.

When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, he and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. “Stay here, please,” Elijah said to Elisha. “The Lord  has sent me on to Bethel.” “As the Lord  lives, and as you yourself live,” Elisha replied, “I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel”. Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, Elisha, for the Lord  has sent me on to Jericho.” “As the Lord  lives, and as you yourself live,” Elisha replied, “I will not leave you.” They went on to Jericho.” Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here; the Lord  has sent me on to the Jordan.” “As the Lord  lives, and as you yourself live,” Elisha replied, “I will not leave you.” And so the two went on together. Fifty of the guild prophets followed, and when the two stopped at the Jordan, stood facing them at a distance. Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up and struck the water, which divided, and both crossed over on dry ground. When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask for whatever I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of your spirit.” “You have asked something that is not easy,” he replied. “Still, if you see me taken up from you, your wish will be granted; otherwise not.” As they walked on conversing, a flaming chariot and flaming horses came between them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. When Elisha saw it happen he cried out, “My father! my father! Israel’s chariots and drivers!” But when he could no longer see him, Elisha gripped his own garment and tore it in two. Then he picked up Elijah’s mantle which had fallen from him, and went back and stood at the bank of the Jordan (2 Kings 2,1-13).

The prophet Malachi announces his arrival before the coming of the day of the Lord. He will come to prepare the hearts to welcome the God that comes. But we know that the prophecies can be understood only after history will be fulfilled.

Remember the law of Moses my servant, which I enjoined him on Horeb, The statutes and ordinances for all Israel. Lo, I will send you Elijah, the prophet, Before the day of the Lord comes, the great and terrible day, To turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the land with doom (Cf. Mal 3.19-24).

It is Luke who gives us the full and perfect meaning of this prophecy. The spirit of fortitude and truth that animated Elijah rests all on John the Baptist. But not to do what Elijah did, but to prepare the way of the Lord by preaching repentance and forgiveness of sins in a baptism of purification and renewal of the heart.

Once when he was serving as priest in his division’s turn before Godthe 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” (Lk 1,8-17).

On the resurrection of the prophets there is no record in Scripture, yet we know that always in the true religion thoughts according to the world are immersed, which often disfigure, if not even obscure the beauty of revelation.

Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying, “John has been raised from the dead”; others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”; still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.” But Herod said, “John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see him.

The Gospel of this day reveals to us how much distortion occurs in the pure truth revealed. Always the man introduces in it his beliefs, his thoughts and his philosophies.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints teach us the true faith.