Let's talk about today's readings 12/11/08

[cheeto1]

Isaiah 41:13-20
Psalms 144
Matthew 11:11-15

I have 3 observations today, but I will mention only one.
In the gospel, Jesus says that if you can accept it, John
the Baptist is Elijah who was to come. Yet in the book of
John (Jn 1:21) John the Baptist says, “I am not Elijah”.

Today is also the day of Pope Damasus I - who widely
promoted the cult of the martyrs. Has anyone heard of
“the cult of the martyrs”? I haven’t.

So what struck you about today’s readings?:bible1:

 

[Light_Seeker]

Matthew 11:12

 

[Light_Seeker]

Jesus says that if you can accept it, John the Baptist is Elijah who was to come. Yet in the book of John (Jn 1:21) John the Baptist says, “I am not Elijah”.

Mat 11:14 is *spirit *of Elijah. Ref Luke 1:17. As in Haydock’s commentary:

Ver. 14. He is Elias, &c. Not in person, but in spirit. (Luke i. 17) (Challoner) — John is here styled Elias, not in the same manner as those who taught the transmigration of souls; but the meaning is, that the precursor came in the spirit and virtue of Elias, and had the same fulness of the Holy Ghost. The Baptist is not undeservedly styled Elias, both for the austerity of his life, and for his sufferings. Elias upbraided Achab and Jezabel for their impieties, and was obliged to flee. John blamed the unlawful marriage of Herod and Herodias, and died for his virtue. (St. Jerome in St. Thomas Aquinas)

 

[cheeto1]

Mat 11:14 is *spirit *of Elijah. Ref Luke 1:17.

O.K., I get it. Thanks. So while the Jews are waiting Elijah’s
return, possibly on another chariot of fire, Jesus says no, not
a physical return of Elijah is meant by Malachi 3:23, but instead
John the Baptist fulfills this prophecy.

That gets me thinking about the mark of the beast (666).
What if it’s not a physical mark, but instead, the mark on
your forehead means your thoughts, and the mark on your
hand means your actions. The number itself could mean
not Nero or another ruler to come, but rather the essence of
imperfection, since 7 is the symbolic number for perfection.
All this time, me and others could have been watching for something that won’t really happen (some ruler or govt. forcing people to get a number put on them). Instead, the real meaning
behind the 666 prophecy from Revelation might be John the Baptist’s simple teaching, “Do good and live right”.
Just the simple advice he gave everyone in Luke 3:10-14.

 

[tobinatorstark]

This from the Haydock Bible Commentary about Pslam 143 (144 in the NAB) sums up all the readings for the day

The prophet praiseth God, and prayeth to be delivered from his enemies. No worldly happiness is to be compared with that of serving God.

 

[Light_Seeker]

cheeto1:

while the Jews are waiting Elijah’s return, possibly on another chariot of fire, Jesus says no, not a physical return of Elijah is meant by Malachi 3:23, but instead
John the Baptist fulfills this prophecy.

Yup, kind of interesting, John wearing a camel hair & leather girdle, & eating off the land. Like Elijah. He had the priests & Levites fooled - they asked John if he was Elijah, but John told them no. But then Jesus says he is. Because the Messiah could not come until Elijah returned. And although John may have denied it, perhaps have not known it, our Lord knew .

cheeto1:

That gets me thinking about the mark of the beast (666).
…
Just the simple advice he gave everyone in Luke 3:10-14.

Possibly! That’s what you have to love about a prophecy - you never know what it means until after it happens. The Jews were expecting Elijah as a king to return & save them, they got John as a hermit paving the way for the Lord.

There’s probably more interpretations about Revelation and 666 as there are words in the Bible. Whether it could be an imbeded rfchip or universal id, who are the 4 nations, is the antichrist among us and who, is the whore Rome or Jerusuleum, rapture or not, is so, when, etc etc etc.

And it all may mean, as you say, the golden rule.

Time will tell. But as Jesus said, only the Father knows when.

 

[cheeto1]

No worldly happiness is to be compared with that of serving God.

I heartily agree!