Cookbook

 Mark 9:9-13

As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead could mean. Then they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” He said to them, “Elijah is indeed coming first to restore all things. How then is it written about the Son of Man, that he is to go through many sufferings and be treated with contempt? But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written about him.”

Reflection

Elijah's role is fulfilled in John the Baptist--he dressed like him and spoke of what people should do immediately at the time of revelation. John has also, at this point in the Gospel,  been beheaded. I hear the anger and frustration in Jesus's clipped responses. He also knows a similar fatal journey is ahead for himself.

This is also one of many passages that we seem to be scratching at the surface of meaning. Sometimes it is frustrating for me, one who has studied the Bible all my life, to be left with so little to interpret and explain to you. That, however, is also an important point. The Bible is not a recipe book of this equals this, or if you do this then this will happen. The interaction between God and God's people is dynamic and mysterious, full of mysteries and wonder. Yes, we do know many things and the conviction of faith is far more powerful than we realize. Jesus does also relieve us from waiting for one thing--the appearance of Elijah. Now we know we live in an end time. I think part of the reason the full ending is delayed is God waiting for our fuller participation.

We praise you O God for the words of the prophets, which were not in vain. We thank you for the great gift of Holy Scripture, which enlightens our days. We pray to you for the fullness of Christ Jesus among us, which brings a new day of all things good. We trust in your unfailing promises and place our cares and concerns into your wisdom and guidance, healing and providence... In the name of the blessed and Holy Trinity, One God, now and forever. Amen.