The prophet Elijah was celebrated in Israel for his awesome, wondrous deeds. So it is not surprising that the reality of the coming Messiah would be equally awesome and wondrous. That the Son of Man would “suffer at their hands” must have seemed incomprehensible. Understandably, the people of Jesus’ day simply missed the point.
What about me? Do I miss the point of Jesus’ life and message? Does Jesus in fact come to my home and heart this Advent 2014 in ways that I miss or perhaps reject?
These days before Christmas, can I open my heart and invite Jesus into my doubts and questions, my fears and fragile hopes?
—The Jesuit Prayer Team