Second Saturday of Advent
– You can ponder on the picture. For a method of praying with pictures click button below.
– You can pray on the words of Scripture. For methods of praying with scripture click button below.
– You can follow the suggestions in the daily ‘Reflection’.
– You can listen to the music
Today’s Scripture
Matthew 17:9a, 10-13 ESV
As they were coming down the mountain, the disciples asked Jesus, ‘Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?’ He answered, ‘Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognise him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.’ Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.
Reflection
How we ‘see’ is affected by our perspective and mind-set. How often do we only see what we expect to see, rather than what is truly there, if only we had the vision to see it? It seems that this was true of the religious leaders of Jesus’ day. They saw John the Baptist. But they failed to recognise him for who he was, the long promised, revived Elijah. Just as they failed to recognise Jesus for who he was.
Part of the invitation of today’s reading is to pay attention, to attend. So that we see not just the surface but recognise the reality beneath. So that we truly see.
Where may we be invited to recognise God’s presence in our current situations?
Where may God be calling us to pray, with Paul, “that the eyes of your hearts may be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power towards us who believe” (Ephesians 1:18,19)
Perhaps that prayer might be one to make our prayer as we continue through this Advent season.
Today’s Music
Open The Eyes of My Heart x Jordan G. Welch