Daily Gospel Reflection for December 10, 2022

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Reflection by Colleen M. Rooney

Today's Gospel: Matthew 17:9a, 10-13

Peter, James, and John have been privileged to witness an extraordinary event. Jesus was transfigured before their eyes on the mountain. The glory of His divine nature shone through His humanity while He spoke with Moses and Elijah. His heavenly Father confirmed His Divine Sonship and His pleasure with His Son while urging the three to listen to Jesus.

Coming down the mountain, the disciples asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” Their heads had to be swimming after this vision. They were trying to make sense of it. Have you ever felt that way? Things are going on in your life and you are trying to make sense of them? Nothing as extraordinary as this, but nevertheless important. Jesus explains Elijah will come but he has already come. There seems to be more to that explanation than meets the eye. Often what we understand about an event grows in meaning as we age. What is first grasped is true but not the complete explanation. As we age and mull things over, like the mother of Our Lord, (“But Mary kept all these things pondering them in her heart"), we come to understand the truth of the event more fully. (Luke 2:19)

The disciples finally grasped that the spirit of Elijah had come in the person of John the Baptist. But Our Lord’s reference to Himself that He would also suffer at the hands of those who had abused and killed John was not yet understood. We are often like that, too, only capable of understanding part of the truth about Jesus and ourselves.

Ponder:

Do we fully understand Jesus' teachings on the first go around?

Pray:

Lord there are many things that I do not understand. Give me Your grace and let me dig for the fullness that You promised to those who search for it.

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Peter, James, and John's heads were swimming after the Transfiguration. #dailygospel

Copyright 2022 Colleen M. Rooney