Today’s Reading from 2 Kings 2:1 & 6-14 helps Catholics prepare for dying. Elijah and Elisha were followed by “fifty of the guild prophets” to the River Jordan. Elisha went with him and crossed over when “Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up and struck the water, which divided, and both crossed over on dry ground.”
The last recorded words of Elijah are a “Hidden Prophecy” of Catholic Communion: “Ask for whatever I may do for you before I am taken from you.” Elisha answered, ‘May I receive a double portion (That is a “Hidden Prophecy” of The Body and Blood of Catholic Communion!) of your spirit.’ ‘You have asked for something that is not easy,’ Elijah replied, (That is a “Hidden Prophecy” of how hard it was for Jesus to suffer and be crucified on our behalf!) ‘still, if you see me taken up from you, your wish will be granted; otherwise, not.'”
Catholics know that Elijah’s Spirit was left with Elisha! “As they walked on conversing, a flaming chariot and flaming horses came between them, and Eijah went up to Heaven in a whirlwind.” (That is a “Hidden Prophecy” of how the first Catholics were blessed to see Jesus “ascend” into Heaven on His Own P0wer, and not have to be taken up in a “fiery chariot”!) Catholics also see that when Elisha returned to the “fifty guild prophets”, “he struck the water, it divided, and he crossed over.” (A “Hidden Prophecy” of how The Prophetic Spirit would remain among God’s Prophets and people for nearly 900 more years.)
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That miracle kept God’s “Spirit” on earth until Elijah returned. His return, in the person of John the Baptist, was predicted by Malachi 4:5-6, “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse”
Catholics respect God’s Prophets so much that we know The Prophet Malachi’s Prophecy was fulfilled in Mark 1:2-4, Luke 1:17, and Matthew 17:10-13, in the person of John the Baptist. “The disciples asked him, ‘Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?’ Jesus replied, ‘To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. . . .’ Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.”
For 2,000 years, Catholics have been blessed to have “understood” that was predicted by Today’s Psalm, 31:20, 21, & 24. “Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord… How great is the goodness, O LORD, which You have in store for those who fear You, … and for those who take refuge in You (A “Hidden Prophecy of every Catholic!) … You hide them in the shelter of Your presence from the plottings of men;… The LORD keeps those who are constant, but more than requites those who act proudly.” (A “Hidden Prophecy” of those who prefer pride to humble obedience.)
He Who Fulfilled the Messianic Prophecies was clear in John 14:23, when He promised that Catholics would be His Chosen People! “Whoever loves Me will keep My Word, and My Father will love him and we will come to Him.”
Catholics are the only people on earth who are blessed to actually “keep” The Church-Creating Word of Jesus to His First Catholic Pope! “And I say unto you thou art Peter and on this rock I build My Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I give you the keys to The Kingdom of Heaven.”
Catholics are blessed! We have God literally “come to” us because we receive The Body and Blood of Jesus by The Miracle of Catholic Communion. Every Catholic is a Living Fulfillment of The Prophecy from Jesus that concludes Today’s Gospel from Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18!
“And your Father, Who sees what is hidden, will repay you.”
What is that “payment”? It includes the reward Jesus promised 14 times to every Catholic who receives Communion from a Catholic priest Ordained in Living Link with The First Catholic Pope and is given God’s Power to transform bread and wine into The Body and Blood of Jesus by The Miracle of Transubstantiation!
“If you do not eat My Body and drink My Blood, you do not have life in you.”
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Today’s Simple Rhyme: “The joy of Catholic Communion / gives us the Holy Union / of having God in us.”
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