Gospel (Mt 17,10-13) - As they were coming down from the mountain, the disciples asked Jesus: "Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" And he replied: «Yes, Elijah will come and she will restore everything. But I tell you: Elijah has already come and they did not recognize him; indeed, they did with him what they wanted. So the Son of Man will also have to suffer at their hands." Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist.

The commentary on the Gospel by Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia

The Gospel passage reports the brief dialogue that occurred between Jesus and the disciples after the transfiguration, as they descended from Mount Tabor. The conversation focuses on one of the protagonists of the vision, the prophet Elijah. The disciples were increasingly convinced that Jesus was the Messiah. The scribes, however, continued to maintain that Elijah would have to come before the Messiah. In fact, in the book of the prophet Malachi, it is written: «Behold, I will send the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes: he will turn the hearts of the fathers towards the children and the hearts of the children towards the fathers, because When I come, let me not strike the earth with extermination" (Mal 3,23). Jesus confirms this prophecy to his disciples, but explains that Elijah has already come. And he suffered the same fate that the Son of man will have to suffer: people do not recognize him, indeed they reject him, making him "what they wanted". The disciples believe that Jesus was talking about the Baptist, in reality he was talking about the fate that awaited him. Every believer needs a prophet who prepares him to welcome the Lord who comes. The evangelist Luke says of the Baptist: «He will walk before him with the spirit and power of Elijah» (Lk 1,17). Who is the prophet for us who prepares us to welcome the Lord? it is the Word of God preached. He who preaches the Gospel is for us Elijah and the Baptist: «His word burned like a torch», says Sirach. We are all asked not to close our ears to the Gospel and to listen to the Word and not to close our eyes to see the "signs of God". Waiting for the Lord is not a passive wait, but going towards him by listening to the Word of God and testifying to his love for him.