During the Transfiguration, three of Jesus' disciples saw Moses, representing the Law, and Elijah, representing the prophetic tradition, speaking with Jesus. Later, the disciples ask Jesus why the religious experts all said that Elijah must come again. Jesus does not directly answer the question but confirms that Elijah will come again. In fact, he has already come but he was not recognised and he was mistreated, just as Jesus Himself will not be recognised and be rejected. The disciples immediately realise that Jesus is speaking of John the Baptist. The role of both Elijah and John was to pave the way for the coming of the Messiah. Let us realise, as Christmas approaches, that we, too, have the same mission of preparing the way for Jesus to come into people's lives. We do that by the way we live our daily lives. And, like John and as disciples of Jesus, we too can expect to have to face challenges and perhaps even hardships.