Prophetic Powers

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to reflect on our understanding of the gift of prophecy in our tradition and in our relationship with others.

Place of the Prophets

The Reading from the Book of Sirach expresses the importance of Jewish heroes to subjects of Greek culture. 

* [48:11] Verse 11b is not extant in the Hebrew; it is represented in the Greek tradition by “for we too shall certainly live.” But this can hardly be the original reading. (“Sirach, CHAPTER 48 | USCCB,” n.d.)

Psalm 80 is a lament in time of military defeat.

* [Psalm 80] A community lament in time of military defeat. Using the familiar image of Israel as a vineyard, the people complain that God has broken down the wall protecting the once splendid vine brought from Egypt (Ps 80:9–14). They pray that God will again turn to them and use the Davidic king to lead them to victory (Ps 80:15–19). (“Psalms, PSALM 80 | USCCB,” n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus addresses the Coming of Elijah.

* [17:9–13] In response to the disciples’ question about the expected return of Elijah, Jesus interprets the mission of the Baptist as the fulfillment of that expectation. But that was not suspected by those who opposed and finally killed him, and Jesus predicts a similar fate for himself.

* [17:9] The vision: Matthew alone uses this word to describe the transfiguration. Until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead: only in the light of Jesus’ resurrection can the meaning of his life and mission be truly understood; until then no testimony to the vision will lead people to faith.

* [17:10] See notes on Mt 3:4; 16:14.

* [17:11–12] The preceding question and this answer may reflect later controversy with Jews who objected to the Christian claims for Jesus that Elijah had not yet come.

* [17:13] See Mt 11:14. (“Matthew, CHAPTER 17 | USCCB,” n.d.)

Suzanne Braddock comments that Jesus patiently, lovingly prepares her for the reality of necessary suffering, times of his seeming absence, the necessary hardships of life. The desert. Yet she still clings to the memory of the blessing of his presence and does not surrender totally to the times of darkness, but rather hopes in the remembrance of his triumph, his resurrection, his promises be with her always.

God’s promise to sing for me as one sings at festivals, to tenderly place me at his cheek as one does a child, to write my name on the palm of his hand. Yes, there will be suffering, but I cling to him and hope that eventually the clouds will part and reveal him. I will know him as he is.

How often I fail to recognize Jesus in the people I was raised to turn away from, in the crosses of my life, in the invitations to give of my time, talent, such as it is, my treasure. I fail to recognize him in the times of darkness and his seeming absence.

Maybe that darkness is but the shadow cast by his total closeness, like the hen who gathers her chicks in the shadow of her wings. (Braddock, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “John fulfills Elijah's prophetic ministry,” by John Chrysostom, 547-407 A.D.

"They did not know this from the Scriptures, but the scribes used to tell them, and this saying was reported among the ignorant crowd, as also about Christ. Therefore the Samaritan woman also said, 'The Messiah is coming; when he comes, he will show us all things' (John 4:25). And they themselves asked John, 'Are you Elijah or the prophet?' (John 1:21). For this opinion was strong, as I said, both the one about Christ and the one about Elijah, but they did not interpret it as it should have been. For the Scriptures speak of two comings of Christ, both this one that has taken place and the future one. Paul spoke of these when he said, 'For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright and godly lives in this world' (Titus 2:11-12).

"Behold the first advent, and listen to how he declares the coming advent: 'Awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ' (Titus 2:13). The prophets also mention both advents; of the one that is second they say that Elijah will be the forerunner; John was forerunner of the first, John whom Christ also called by the name Elijah, not because he was Elijah but because he was fulfilling Elijah's ministry. For just as Elijah will be the forerunner of the second advent, so John was of the first. But the scribes, confusing these things and perverting the people, mentioned that coming alone, the second one, to the people, and said, 'If this is the Christ, Elijah ought to have come first.' That is why the disciples also say, 'Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?'" (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 57.1) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 17:9-13 comments that John told the people to be alert because a new outpouring was on the horizon. But he didn’t just alert them; he sought to prepare them for it. It’s one thing to pay attention to the signs pointing to Jesus’ arrival. But it was another thing altogether to humble themselves and to repent so that they could be ready to receive him when he came.

How are you preparing for the coming of the Messiah? And not just for the child Jesus’ coming on Christmas, but for the Lord Jesus’ coming into your heart today? Every day can be a day of grace. Every day can bring a new outpouring of the Spirit: a new outpouring of forgiveness, perhaps, or a fresh awareness of God’s love or a renewed sense of purpose and mission. This is why daily prayer is so important. So come humbly before the Lord today—and every day—and listen for his Spirit’s voice. It’s the best way to “prepare the way of the Lord!”

“Lord, help me open my heart to your grace today!” (“Meditation on Matthew 17:9-13,” 2025)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that Sirach, one of the last Hebrew Testament texts, declares Jewish heroes as great as Greek heroes. The conquering Greeks were pushing Hellenistic ideas and Sirach responded by recalling a series of Jewish heroes including Elijah who called a drought upon Israel reflecting the principle of “as the sin, so the punishment.” And Elijah brought down fire and was carried to the heavens in a fiery chariot. Friar Jude notes that Jesus speaks of the Baptist as the new Elijah who does as promised by Elijah, bring families back together.

Fr. Mike Schmitz outlines Paul’s trial before King Agrippa and his efforts to use his conversion story to convert those hearing his case. He also leads us through the first half of Ephesians, emphasizing Paul’s main theme of unity in the spirit. Today’s readings are from Acts 26, Ephesians 1-3, and Proverbs 29:18-21.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces James Finley and Mirabai Starr who read “Song of the Soul” or “Noche Oscura” by John of the Cross. He invites us to use the links below to listen or to read this poem shared in both English and Spanish and follow these simple instructions for lectio or audio divina.

Listen or read the first time and allow the sound and images of the poem to wash over you.

Listen or read a second time and allow your attention to be drawn to a word or phrase. Let it speak to you. Pray to God or journal about what it might mean to you.

Listen or read a third time. Sit in silence with God for as long as you feel drawn. (Rohr, n.d.)

We ponder the description “as the sin so the punishment” credited to Elijah and seek enlightenment of the Spirit to reveal action to avoid sin and the related punishment.

References

Braddock, S. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved December 13, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-december-13-2025 

Matthew, CHAPTER 17 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 13, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/17?9 

Meditation on Matthew 17:9-13. (2025, December 13). Word Among Us. https://wau.org/meditations/2025/12/13/1444943/ 

Psalms, PSALM 80 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 13, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/80?2 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 13, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-hidden-work-of-grace-weekly-summary/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Elijah Must First Come. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 13, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Sirach, CHAPTER 48 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 13, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/sirach/48?1 

Time of Transformation

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, invite us to reflect on how the experience of the love and mission of God is the foundation of transformations in both individuals and society.

 

Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish

The Reading from the Prophet Zechariah is an Expansion on the Themes of the First Three Visions.

* [2:10] Land of the north: refers to Babylon (v. 11), in a geographic rather than a political sense, as the place from which exiles will return. The designation is “north” because imperial invaders historically entered Palestine from that direction (see Jer 3:18; 23:8).

* [2:15] Many nations…my people: a way of expressing God’s relationship to people in covenant language. The covenant between God and Israel (see Jer 31:33; 32:38) is here universalized to include all nations.

* [2:16] The holy land: the Lord’s earthly territory, a designation found only rarely in the Old Testament. (“Zechariah, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB,” n.d.)

The Text from the Book of Revelation proclaims The Woman and the Dragon.

* [12:1–6] The woman adorned with the sun, the moon, and the stars (images taken from Gn 37:9–10) symbolizes God’s people in the Old and the New Testament. The Israel of old gave birth to the Messiah (Rev 12:5) and then became the new Israel, the church, which suffers persecution by the dragon (Rev 12:6, 13–17); cf. Is 50:1; 66:7; Jer 50:12. This corresponds to a widespread myth throughout the ancient world that a goddess pregnant with a savior was pursued by a horrible monster; by miraculous intervention, she bore a son who then killed the monster.

* [12:2] Because of Eve’s sin, the woman gives birth in distress and pain (Gn 3:16; cf. Is 66:7–14).

* [12:3] Huge red dragon: the Devil or Satan (cf. Rev 12:9; 20:2), symbol of the forces of evil, a mythical monster known also as Leviathan (Ps 74:13–14) or Rahab (Jb 26:12–13; Ps 89:11). Seven diadems: these are symbolic of the fullness of the dragon’s sovereignty over the kingdoms of this world; cf. Christ with many diadems (Rev 19:12).

* [12:5] Rule,iron rod: fulfilled in Rev 19:15; cf. Ps 2:9. Was caught up to God: reference to Christ’s ascension.

* [12:6] God protects the persecuted church in the desert, the traditional Old Testament place of refuge for the afflicted, according to the typology of the Exodus; see note on Rev 11:2. (“Revelation, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB,” n.d.)

The response from the Book of Judith describes how Judith Displays the Head of Holofernes.

* [13:12–20] Elements from chaps. 8–9 are echoed here. The assembly of the people at Judith’s return parallels the meeting of the town officials summoned by Judith in 8:10. Uzziah blesses Judith in 8:5 and again in 13:18–20. (“Judith, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB,” n.d.)

The Gospel of Luke proclaims Mary’s Visit to Elizabeth.

* [1:43] Even before his birth, Jesus is identified in Luke as the Lord.

* [1:45] Blessed are you who believed: Luke portrays Mary as a believer whose faith stands in contrast to the disbelief of Zechariah (Lk 1:20). Mary’s role as believer in the infancy narrative should be seen in connection with the explicit mention of her presence among “those who believed” after the resurrection at the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 1:14).

* [1:46–55] Although Mary is praised for being the mother of the Lord and because of her belief, she reacts as the servant in a psalm of praise, the Magnificat. Because there is no specific connection of the canticle to the context of Mary’s pregnancy and her visit to Elizabeth, the Magnificat (with the possible exception of v. 48) may have been a Jewish Christian hymn that Luke found appropriate at this point in his story. (“Luke, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB,” n.d.)

Desiree Nownes comments her experience was always that the church was a sanctuary from the evils of the world and a place that the poor, hungry, and downtrodden could turn to. In recent years, She feels that the church has taken on a very political stance and is not the protector of the poor, needy, and puts out more wrath than love. As we stand before our creator, will we be able to say that his church welcomed all who sought refuge from the dragon and evilness in the world? During this time of Advent as a time of light, can we dispel the darkness and welcome a season of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love?

Life is hard. Times are difficult. I am exhausted by the world and the despair I see.

I contemplate peace and pray for guidance against those who only wish hardship and ruin on others.

Be our light, Lord. Bring back the nurturing and protective nature of the church and its teachings. May they know we are Christians by our love.

“I (almost) always come limping into Advent,

desperate for light, but almost too tired to look for it.

Then, I remember, the light comes to look for me,

and that’s the whole point.” (Annie B. Jones) (Nownes, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Mary conceives the Creator of all things,” by an anonymous early author from the Greek church.

"Gabriel flew down from the vault of heaven and came to Nazareth; standing before the virgin Mary, he cried to her, 'Rejoice! You shall conceive a son more ancient than Adam, the Creator of all things and Savior of those who cry to you. Rejoice, pure virgin!' Gabriel brought from heaven good tidings to the Virgin, and he cried out to her, 'Rejoice! You shall conceive him whom the world cannot contain; he shall be contained within your womb. You shall bear him who shone forth from the Father before the morning star!' (Psalm 110:3).

"The co-eternal Word of the Father who has no beginning, not being parted from the things on high, has now descended here below, in his boundless love taking pity on fallen humankind. He has assumed the poverty of Adam, clothing himself in a form strange to him." (excerpt from STICHERA OF THE ANNUNCIATION) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 1:26-38 comments that In today’s first reading, the prophet Zechariah proclaims, “You shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you” when “many nations” join themselves to the Lord (Zechariah 2:15). Just so, we can rejoice that the Lord has sent our Blessed Mother to us because of the way people from “many nations,” including our own, have joined themselves to the Lord as a result of her appearances.

God sent the prophet Zechariah to Israel with a message of salvation. He sent the angel Gabriel to Mary with a message of salvation. He sent the Virgin Mary to the Americas with a message of salvation. And he’s sending you to your friends, family, and community with a message of salvation. So don’t be afraid to share the good news about Jesus; it’s just as powerful today as ever!

“Lord, thank you for sending me into the world!” (“Meditation on Luke 1:26-38,” 2025)

Friar Jude Winkler comments how Zechariah speaks about the Lord coming to rescue Zion and Judah will be His own portion. God will make a home among His people. The Ark of the Covenant was seen in the Temple announcing God coming for judgement. We may think of Mary and the Immaculate Conception but it also is the Church giving birth to Jesus throughout history. The primordial rebellion against God is presented in sweeping of the stars. In Luke, the Holy Family starts in Nazareth, which is in the region of Galilee. They travel to Bethlehem in Judea for a Roman census, where Jesus is born, and then return to Nazareth shortly after. 

This account differs from the Gospel of Matthew, in which the Holy Family appears to be living in Bethlehem. In Luke, the Spirit greets Mary in the perfect tense, indicating she is always full of grace. Mary is a bit troubled that she would bear Jesus, “Yeshua”  or“Yahweh saves” who in the light of The Holy Spirit we understand as the Only Son of God. Friar Jude addresses the difference in Zachariah and Mary’s question, valid in the case of Mary who becomes the new Ark of the Covenant, Her pregnancy was also possible. Those damaged by sin are not able to be totally vulnerable as was Mary. The visitation where Mary travels to Ein Karem and Elizabeth can recognize Mary’s surrender to the will of God as John the Baptist, in Elizabeth’s womb, gives witness to the Lord. Friar Jude comments that The “Magnificat” is chosen by Luke to illustrate how Mary proclaims the greatness of God.

Fr. Mike Schmitz reminds us of the context of Galatians and reiterates Paul’s admonition not to revert to our previous ways of life now that we have been freed from the yoke of slavery. He also discusses the works of the flesh which separate us from Christ and the fruits of the spirit which result from a life lived in God, reminding us that we will reap what we sow in due season. Today’s readings are Acts 25, Galatians 4-6, and Proverbs 29:15-17.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces author Stephanie Duncan Smith who writes about her experience of suffering a miscarriage during the Advent season. She recounts how averse she felt to the holiday celebrations in her time of grief.

The God of Advent is not a God of indifference, but the God who imagined mirror neurons into existence—the cell network responsible for so much of what makes us human, which is the basic ability to read and respond to the emotional needs of others. Every human encounter of empathy begins with mirror neurons firing in witness to pain.

It is fitting, then, that the sacred year begins with Advent. Human pain is the call—every nerve ending crying out. The Incarnation is the response—every mirror neuron of God firing, volcanic in awakening. God hears the crash and cries of our great fall and, like a mother, comes running. Emmanuel rushes through time and space to be not just near our hurt, but human with us in it.

What I had missed was the very essence of Advent: This is an entire season dedicated to hearing the hurt and naming the night. We are not just allowed to do so, we are openly called to do so. (Rohr, n.d.)

We seek the consolation of the Spirit as we negotiate our journey through challenge and loss with trust in God to transform our lives through love, mercy and compassion.

References

Judith, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 12, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/judith/13?18 

Luke, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 12, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/1? 

Meditation on Luke 1:26-38. (2025, December 12). Word Among Us. https://wau.org/meditations/2025/12/12/1444284/ 

Nownes, D. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved December 12, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-december-12-2025 

Revelation, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 12, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/revelation/12 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 12, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/advent-heals-the-hurt/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). For with God Nothing Will Be Impossible. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 12, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Zechariah, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 12, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/zechariah/2?14