The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, December 10, 2005
Saturday in the Second Week of Advent

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11
Psalm 80:2a,c and 3b, 15-16, 18-19
Matthew 17:9a, 10-13

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

I tell you that Elijah has already come
. . . These are the days of Elijah.

We live in the time of the prophet. He has come already--his spirit was upon John the Baptist who announced the first coming of our Lord.

But we are privileged still to have those among us who come and toil and pray in the Spirit of Elijah. The Carmelites are brothers and sisters of Elijah and of our Lady. They are an order in allegiance with Jesus Christ who work in the prophetic spirit to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.

If you read these meditations daily, you read the thoughts of several Carmelites. The Word of the Lord is our daily food for thought and prayer. The Spirit of the Lord is our shield and our guide.

But, you know, that truth is not limited to the Carmelites. We all live in the time of Elijah. Even as we wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to come in glory, we have access to the Holy Spirit. If we choose to do so, we can live in the Spirit and guide those around us to Him.

It is easy enough to do. "Knock and it shall be opened, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be answered." The Lord will not withhold his Holy Spirit from those who ask. And so in this season of waiting, pray that the Lord would pour out a measure of His Spirit upon you. The Spirit of Joy and Hope and Faith and Love who guides all people by His marvelous and unalloyed light. This is the season of waiting, this is the season of blessing, this is the season of the spirit, these are the days of Elijah.

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

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