Elijah Redivivus

Seeing John as opening act for Jesus

Matthew 17:9A, 10-13

            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.

            I’ve never been to a concert before, and I really have no desire to go.  I can’t fathom why anyone would spend good money, go gaga watching someone look silly jumping up and down on stage and do something that sounds more like yelling than singing.  But there is one thing I do appreciate about concerts – they invariably have an “opening act.”  Before the featured artist comes on stage, a lesser-known singer will perform.  It’s kind of how at Mass a deacon reads the gospel before the priest gives the homily: every deacon is a priest’s opening act!  The purpose of an opening act is to warm up the crowd and get them excited for what’s coming next.  They build up people’s expectations and then the featured artist comes on stage and everyone goes crazy!  Yep, that’s pretty much what happens at every Sunday Mass.

            In the gospel today, we hear that even Jesus needed an opening act, namely, St. John the Baptist.  But apparently, the disciples were like me and had never been to a concert before, so they ask Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”  And Jesus basically answers that like any great artist, he, too, needs an opening act.  John was basically “Elijah redivivus,” (Elijah born again).  But unlike the concert crowds that go wild for Ozzie Osborne and Miranda Lambert, the crowds awaiting a Messiah killed both John and Jesus.  But that’s not because John was a poor opening act; instead, he did his job perfectly, preparing the way for Jesus, whose own great act would be his saving death on the cross.  Fulton Sheen said, “E

veryone comes into the world to live, but Jesus came into the world to die.”  That’s why John was his perfect opening act.  Every great artist needs an opening act, even Jesus.

            My friends, I would like to suggest to you that the 4 weeks of Advent are also like the opening act for Jesus.  In fact, Advent really should take on the character and personality of John the Baptist.  If John is Elijah redivivus, then Advent is “John redivivus” (John born again).  John said repent and so we should make a good confession in Advent.  John said take care of the poor, so we should help the needy in Advent.  John said believe in Jesus, so Advent should help us deepen our faith.  John said, “I must decrease and he must increase,” and so the daylight diminishes until Christmas and then begins to increase after the birth of the Son of God.  You see, the whole season of Advent is a huge, 4-week opening act for the main attraction, Christmas, where Jesus walks on the world stage and the crowds go wild and crazy.  Every great artist needs an opening act.  You know, I’ve never even been to a concert, but even I know that.

            Praised be Jesus Christ!