Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr Yrs 1 and 2 2025

Title

We know so little about St Lucy other than that she was a fearless, if quiet, witness to total commitment to Christ. In that and in her fate she fits with the image of Elijah.

Elijah Will Indeed Come

Outline

Elijah came

Elijah comes out of nowhere to turn away the judgement of God. We see the three year famine, but hard as it was, it was a call to repentance like we see in Psalm 95. We see the fire on the altar, but that was to turn hearts to God. We see the slaying of the prophets of Ba’al, but that was to remove those who turned people from God. Elijah was only partially successful and leaders tried to kill him, but his ascension into heaven showed the future for God-followers.

Elijah came again

Jesus says Elijah had come; he had come to call people to repentance that was not that of the Pharisees, to call people to be prepared for the Son of God. There were those of his followers who were prepared, who shifted to Jesus either before or after Jesus’ death. But most “did not recognize him” and so there was no protest movement when he was put into prison and the leaders of the people did not appeal to Herod Agrippa for his release. Because they were unprepared, they did not “get” Jesus rising from the dead, but instead received the Roman destruction of Galilee and Judea.

Elijah will come

While there may be many Elijahs the canonical reference appears in Revelation as the two witnesses, likely Moses and Elijah figures or the people themselves appear. They bring with them plagues, not to destroy but to warn, to prepare people for the coming of the Son of Man in glory and judgment. And they suffer like the Son of Man, being killed and their bodies exposed for 3 days before rising from the dead.

So what about Elijah

The figure of Elijah is to tell us that God prefers to call to repentance than to judge the unrepentant. The figure of Elijah tells us that God’s people need repentance, for he always comes to the people of Israel, the Jews, or Jerusalem. The figure of Elijah tells us that signs and wonders are for those in need or repentance, not for those who have already repented. The figure of Elijah tells us that God’s messenger with God’s message is likely to be minimally effective. The figure of Elijah tells us that those who bear God’s message are most likely to suffer rejection and even execution. But he also tells us not to be afraid, for as in Jesus death cannot hold such a person, but they are received into glory.

Amen