The Gospel for The memorial of St. Lucy, virgin and martyr, is taken from St. Matthew 17. As they were coming down from the mountain, the disciples asked Jesus, why did the scribes say that Elijah must first come? He said in reply, elijah will indeed come and restore all things. But I tell you that Elijah has already come.

And they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands. Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist. In this Gospel, Peter, James and John have just witnessed the transfiguration. Jesus turning into light, enlightenment. And there on either side is Elijah the prophets and Moses the law.

And what it’s saying clearly to the disciples that there is a radical change coming, where all that has gone before will be transformed into something radically new called the Kingdom of God. It’s important to recognize all the stages that went into this transition, because in a sense, we all go through something like that, leaving behind that which is not really productive and entering into a productive kingdom of God. Please take a moment to reflect and then I will close with a prayer. Foreign. Closing prayer. Father, we have this major story, and yet we today are living in the final times.

We’re living in the time of the Kingdom of God. Help us to discern the work that we’re engaged in as we continue to move forward and not fall back into things that lead to violence, destruction. The Kingdom of God that is being established is about life, hope, love, connection. And we ask this in Jesus name, Amen.