He is Elijah, the one who is to come

Is 41,13-20; Ps 144,1.9-13; Mt 11,11-15.
13 DECEMBER

In the Book of the Prophet Malachi, the sending of Elijah to prepare hearts so that they welcome the Lord who is about to come is pre-announced. Sirach makes his own and confirms this prophecy.

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 (Mal 3,23-24). 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 re-establish the tribes of Jacob (Cf. Sir 48,1-11).

The Angel Gabriel, announcing to Zechariah in the temple of Jerusalem, the birth of John, reveals that he will come with the spirit and power of Elijah, to bring back the hearts of the fathers to the children and the rebels to the wisdom of the righteous and prepare a well-disposed people for the Lord. There is not a return in the flesh of Elijah. The Spirit of the Lord that had alighted powerfully on Elijah now rests with the same power and strength on John. Elijah is in eternity and remains in it. Instead, who comes is the Holy Spirit.

«Do not be afraid, Zechariah, your prayer has been answered and your wife Elizabeth will give you a son, and you will call him John. You will have joy and exultation, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord; he will not drink wine or intoxicating drinks, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb and will bring many children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will walk before him with the spirit and power of Elijah, to bring back the hearts of the fathers. towards the children and the rebels to the wisdom of the righteous and prepare for the Lord a well-disposed people “.

Speaking of John the Baptist, Jesus confirms what the Angel Gabriel told Zechariah in the temple. If Elijah came in the person of John and prepared the way for Jesus, necessarily Jesus is not only the Messiah of the Lord, he is also the Lord. He is the Messiah and the Lord. He is the Anointed of God and God himself. In his Person Jesus is God, he is the Lord, he is the Christ of God. The Holy Spirit gives the prophecy. The Holy Spirit interprets it. The Holy Spirit declares it accomplished. Jesus is the Lord who has to come. He is the Messiah of God, his Anointed one. These truths are inseparable. They are one truth.

Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force. All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who is to come. Whoever has ears ought to hear.

Whoever is preparing to celebrate the Holy Christmas must know that who is born is not a great man, is not a powerful Saviour or Redeemer. He is not a very noble figure of our humanity. Who is born is the Eternal Word, the Only Son, the God who is in the beginning with God, who becomes flesh in the womb of the Virgin and is born as a true man. He is from eternity true God, true Son of God by eternal generation. With the incarnation he becomes true Son of man by generation through the work of the Holy Spirit in Mary’s womb. The Person of the Son of God is born as a true man, remaining true to God. Since it is God that is born in the flesh, Jesus is the Eternal Different from every other person, both divine and human. Only Jesus is the incarnate God who subsists in two nature, human nature and divine nature. Only Jesus is the God-Man who can save every other man. On this truth one must not make much or little discount. In this way it is and this way it must be affirmed forever and ever. No other man is true God, but only man.

Mother of God, Angels and Saints ensure that the truth of Jesus is proclaimed in its purity.