Prayer of the Day

Second Week of Advent – Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Finnian, Bishop

December 12th, 2015

The liturgy wants to focus on a single great accomplishment of Elijah: to re-establish unity within the families and tribes of Israel. We all recognise unity as the most difficult goal to achieve. If a serious division occurs between members of the same family, it seems impossible to restore love and agreement. When religious groups split off from one another, we end up with the overwhelming scandal of division within Christianity, or the violent differences between Christianity, Judaism and Islam – three world religions sprung from the same parent and patriarch, Abraham.

History repeats itself: persecution continues today as we witness the violence and persecution of Christians in the name of Allah, or by those who have a perverted version of Islam.

The birth of Jesus, like a newly born child in a home otherwise split apart, can be one of thos natural forces that bring about unity. In natural surroundings, such as the birth of a Child, God intervenes as abruptly as the prophet Elijah. The unity which Jesus seeks, expects us to form one family of love; yet, we continue to hold on to grudges, hurts and bad memories.  John the Baptist was Elijah who suffered as Jesus will have to suffer. Jesus himself added that he himself was Elijah who will restore all things.