OUR LADY OF LORETO (OPTIONAL MEMORIAL)

Elijah will indeed come and restore all things.

Many Jews believed that the Old Testament prophet Elijah would come again to “turn back the hearts of fathers toward their sons, and to re-establish the tribes of Jacob” (Sirach 48:10). But according to Jesus, Elijah already had come in the person of John the Baptist, who like the Old Testament prophet had called people to repentance.

Through John’s ministry of baptism, the people of Israel prepared themselves to receive the Messiah. Washed clean of their sin, their hearts were opened to welcome the even greater work that God was preparing to do through Jesus.

And what did Jesus do? He reconciled us with the Father and made us co-heirs of his kingdom. He also sent his Holy Spirit to live within us. Thus, John’s promise to the people who had flocked to him was fulfilled: he had baptized with water, but the One who came after him baptized “with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Luke 3:16).

But if we have received the Holy Spirit, why do we still sometimes put distance between ourselves and God? And why do we still say and do things that cause divisions among us?

The simple answer is that we are still sinners. This would be discouraging news if Jesus had left us on our own. But he didn’t. He gave us the Spirit to help us. When we give in to temptation, the Spirit convicts us of our sin and moves us to repent. And as John knew, repentance prepares us to receive the forgiveness that Jesus came to give us. It restores us to the Father time and again.

Every day, ask the Spirit to help you search your heart. When you realize you have sinned, repent—immediately. Go to Confession if necessary. If you have hurt someone, ask for their forgiveness and try to reconcile. As you do these things, the Holy Spirit will work in your heart in a deeper way. He will reveal more of God’s love, both for you and for every person you encounter.

“Holy Spirit, help me to recognize my sins so that I can repent and come back to the Father!”

Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11
Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19
Matthew 17:9-13