From Father’s Desk: 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The readings this week are especially beautiful I think. We should read the entire sixth chapter of John in light of Jesus being the “new Moses”, the great prophet who is even greater than Moses. There is however maybe an even closer connection with this particular miracle to the prophet Elisha. Most people remember Elijah but forget about the prophet Elisha who followed him who did even greater works.

St. John the Baptist was the new Elijah and before this reading today, John gives way to Jesus, the new Elisha. Why does this matter? Elijah and Elisha were just prophets, they weren’t God and most people do not remember too many stories about either. It matters because God the Father ordered all things, including all of history to find its fulfillment in Jesus. Jesus did not just come up out of no where, He lives and acts within a context where he was predicted and all of this historical hope is fulfilled within His own person.