Above: Elijah and the Chariot of Fire
Image in the Public Domain
Elijah and John the Baptist
JUNE 8, 2019
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The Collect:
God our creator, the resurrection of your Son offers life to all the peoples of the earth.
By your Holy Spirit, kindle in us the fire of your love,
empowering our lives for service and our tongues for praise,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
–Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), page 36
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The Assigned Readings:
2 Kings 2:1-15a
Psalm 104:23-34, 35b
Luke 1:5-17
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May the glory of the LORD endure for ever;
may the LORD rejoice in all his works.
–Psalm 104:32, The Book of Common Prayer (1979)
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Elijah was a great prophet of God. He departed this earth in 2 Kings 2:1-15a, not having died. Expectations that he would return to prepare for the coming of the Messiah circulated for centuries. In Luke 9, for example, some speculated that Jesus was the returned Elijah. No, the chapter insisted, Jesus was greater than Elijah. St. John the Baptist fulfilled Elijah’s function (Matthew 17:12-13) and Jesus was the Messiah. Both Elijah and St. John the Baptist ran afoul of officialdom for the sake of righteousness.
The glory of the LORD endures forever. It would do so even without the efforts of many faithful people, but such efforts are certainly laudable. They are good works related to active faith in God. Grace is free yet not cheap, for it makes demands on its recipients. Sometimes the cost is one’s life.
Just as St. John the Baptist pointed to Jesus and, according to tradition, Elijah pointed to the Messiah, may each of us follow Christ, lead others to him, and seek his glory, not our own.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
JANUARY 8, 2016 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF SAINT THORFINN OF HAMAR, ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP
THE FEAST OF GALILEO GALILEI, SCIENTIST
THE FEAST OF HARRIET BEDELL, EPISCOPAL DEACONESS
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https://blogatheologica.wordpress.com/2016/01/08/elijah-and-john-the-baptist/
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