1812151. Bacaan Liturgi 15 Desember 2018 Hari Biasa, Pekan Adven II. Ecce veniet! - He is about to arrive!

Bacaan Liturgi 15 Desember 2018
Hari Biasa, Pekan Adven II.

Bacaan Pertama
Sir 48:1-4.9-11
Elia akan datang lagi.

Pembacaan dari Kitab Putera Sirakh:

Dahulu kala tampillah nabi Elia bagaikan api.
Perkataannya membakar laksana obor.
Dialah yang mendatangkan kelaparan atas orang Israel,
dan karena geramnya, jumlah mereka dijadikannya sedikit.
Atas firman Tuhan  langit dikunci olehnya,
dan api diturunkannya sampai tiga kali.
Betapa mulialah engkau, hai Elia, dengan segala mujizatmu!
Siapa dapat memegahkan diri sama dengan dikau?

Dalam olak angin berapi engkau diangkat,
dalam kereta dengan kuda berapi.
Engkau tercantum dalam ancaman-ancaman tentang masa depan
untuk meredakan kemurkaan sebelum meletus,
untuk mengembalikan hati bapa kepada anaknya
serta memulihkan segala suku Yakub.

Berbahagialah orang yang telah melihat engkau,
dan yang meninggal dalam kasih.

Demikianlah sabda Tuhan.

Mazmur
Mzm 80:2ac.3b.15-16.18-19
R:4
Ya Allah, pulihkanlah kami.
Buatlah wajah-Mu bersinar, maka selamatlah kami.

*Hai gembala Israel, pasanglah telinga-Mu,
Engkau yang duduk di atas para kerub, tampillah bersinar.
Bangkitkanlah keperkasaan-Mu,
dan datanglah menyelamatkan kami.

*Ya Allah semesta alam, kembalilah,
pandanglah dari langit, dan lihatlah!
Tengoklah pohon anggur ini,
lindungilah batang yang ditanam oleh tangan kanan-Mu!

*Kiranya tangan-Mu melindungi
orang yang ada di sebelah kanan-Mu,
anak manusia yang telah Kauteguhkan.
Maka kami tidak akan menyimpang dari pada-Mu;
Biarkanlah kami hidup, maka kami akan menyerukan nama-Mu.

Bait Pengantar Injil
Luk 3:4.6
Persiapkanlah jalan untuk Tuhan,
luruskanlah jalan bagi-Nya,
dan semua orang akan melihat keselamatan yang dari Tuhan.

Bacaan Injil
Mat 17:10-13 
Elia sudah datang, tetapi orang tidak mengenal dia.

Inilah Injil Yesus Kristus menurut Matius:

Ketika Yesus dan murid-murid-Nya turun dari gunung,
para murid bertanya kepada-Nya,
"Mengapa ahli-ahli Taurat berkata
bahwa Elia harus datang dahulu?"
Yesus menjawab,
"Memang Elia akan datang dan memulihkan segala sesuatu.
Dan Aku berkata kepadamu, Elia sudah datang,
tetapi orang tidak mengenal dia,
dan memperlakukannya menurut kehendak mereka.
Demikian pula Anak Manusia akan menderita oleh mereka."
Pada waktu itu mengertilah murid-murid Yesus
bahwa Ia berbicara tentang Yohanes Pembaptis.

Demikianlah injil Tuhan.

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Saturday, 15th DECEMBER

Matthew 17:9a, 10-13

And as they were coming down the mountain, the disciples asked him, "Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?" He replied, "Elijah does come, and he is to restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not know him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of man will suffer at their hands." Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

It's astonishing how short-sighted people can be. They can have a prophet right in front of their faces and fail to recognise him. On one occasion Elijah gently brought a dead boy back to life for the sake of the widowed mother (1 Kgs 17:22) but they persecuted him all the same. St John the Baptist was famous, even King Herod heard him. But the people of Israel didn't recognise him either.

There was a famous tennis player who won a grand slam. Journalists and fans went to the airport to receive him on his arrival. But the loudspeakers at the airport announced that there would be an hour's delay due to bad weather. To keep the waiting crowd entertained, airport staff projected the recorded championship final on a big screen. The problem came when the plane landed twenty minutes ahead of schedule in another terminal where no one was actually expecting it to. Everyone was so absorbed in the tennis match that they missed the celebrity's arrival!

The people of Israel were awaiting the Messiah for centuries, imploring God to send Him soon and preparing themselves for that coming. And when He eventually came... they also failed to recognise Him. 

Still today, people are expecting Christmas... but not Christ; like celebrating a wedding and leaving the bride outside. They expect gifts... but not 'The Gift', the Son of God made man. They will celebrate the Birth of Jesus Christ... without Jesus Christ. 

To avoid this happening again, we have Advent. "Advent is here. What a marvellous time in which to renew your desire, your nostalgia, your real longing for Christ to come - for him to come every day to your soul in the Eucharist. The Church encourages us: Ecce veniet! - He is about to arrive!" (St Josemaría). 

Mary, Mother of God, help me to get ready for your Son's arrival.

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