Praise of Israel’s Great Ancestors

Greetings on this the Saturday of the Second Week of Advent
Readings: Sir 48:1-4, 9-11; PS 80:2ac and 3b, 15-16, 18-19; Mt 17:9a, 10-13
Notes: Today’s readings are a tribute to John the Baptist, the returning of Elijah. The Book of Sirach contains the eulogy of the heroes of Israel. John is the last entry of the tribute now. In the Age of the Church, a new list forms of those heroes that profess Christ and the Message of Salvation.

Praise of Israel’s Great Ancestors

• ENOCH walked with the LORD and was taken.
• NOAH, found just and perfect, renewed the race in the time of devastation.
• ABRAHAM, father of many peoples, kept his glory without stain.
• ISAAC, too, he renewed the same promise because of Abraham, his father.
• Blessing rested upon the head of ISRAEL. God acknowledged him as the firstborn, and gave him his inheritance.
• Dear to God and human beings, MOSES, whose memory is a blessing. That he might teach his precepts to Jacob, his judgments and decrees to Israel.
• Like Moses in holiness, His brother AARON, of the tribe of Levi.
• PHINEHAS too, the son of Eleazar.
• For even his covenant with David, the son of Jesse of the tribe of Judah.
• Valiant warrior was JOSHUA, son of Nun.
• CALEB, son of Jephunneh, when they opposed the rebel assembly.
• The JUDGES, each one of them, whose hearts were not deceived.
• As one consecrated to the LORD in the prophetic office, was SAMUEL, the judge who offered sacrifice.
• After him came NATHAN who served in David’s presence.
• Like the choice fat of sacred offerings, so was DAVID in Israel.
• SOLOMON reigned during an era of peace, for God brought rest to all his borders. He built a house to the name of God, and established a lasting sanctuary.
• Rehoboam and Jeroboam – Broad in folly, narrow in sense, whose policy made the people rebel. Then arose the one who should not be remembered, the sinner who led Israel into sin.
• Elijah – Until like fire a prophet appeared, his words a flaming furnace.
  • Shut up the heavens
  • Three times brought down fire.
  • Dead body back to life
  • Kings to destruction
  • Saved nobels from their sick bed
  • Made avenging justice.
  • Aloft in a whirlwind
  • To come to put an end to wrath before the day of the Lord
• and Elisha filled with his spirit. Even after death marvelous deeds.
• But Judah remained, a tiny people, with its ruler from the house of David.
• HEZEKIAH fortified his city and had water brought into it.
• Isaiah, who saw truth in visions. In his lifetime he turned back the sun and prolonged the life of the king.
• The name JOSIAH is like blended incense, made lasting by a skilled perfumer.
• As foretold by JEREMIAH. They mistreated him who even in the womb had been made a prophet.
• EZEKIEL beheld a vision and described the different creatures of the chariot.
• He also referred to JOB, who always persevered in the right path.
• Then, too, the TWELVE PROPHETS— may their bones flourish with new life where they lie!
• How to extol ZERUBBABEL? He was like a signet ring on the right hand.
• And JESHUA, Jozadak’s son? In their time they rebuilt the altar and erected the holy temple, destined for everlasting glory.
• Exalted be the memory of NEHEMIAH! He rebuilt our ruined walls, Restored our shattered defenses, and set up gates and bars.
• Early Patriarchs: Few on earth have been created like ENOCH; he also was taken up bodily. Was ever a man born like JOSEPH? Even his dead body was provided for. Glorious, too, were SHEM and SETH and ENOSH; but beyond that of any living being was the splendor of ADAM.
• Greatest of his family, the glory of his people, was SIMEON the priest, son of Jochanan, In whose time the house of God was renovated, in whose days the temple was reinforced.

And now we add John the Baptist to this exalted list of Praise of Israel’s Great Ancestors.

Happy those who meditate upon these things; wise those who take them to heart! If they put them into practice, they can cope with anything, for the fear of the LORD is their lamp (Sir 50:28-29).

The Sunday gospel portion reveals the great moment of crisis for John as he sits in prison awaiting his unjust judgment by King Herod Antipas.

Father Duffy has a nice reflection for Gaudette Sunday: https://www.fatherduffy.com/on-joy/

First reading
I already gave you this above 🙂

Responsorial Psalm
Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

Alleluia Verse
Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths: All flesh shall see the salvation of God.

Gospel Portion
As they were coming down from the mountain, the disciples asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” He said in reply, “Elijah will indeed come and restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased. So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry