The colourful, exciting language used about Elijah is a measure of the hope he aroused in the hearts of faithful members of the Chosen People. His fiery preaching brought about a restoration of faith and loyalty to God. His spectacular departure raised hopes that he would come back to finish the job he had started.

In today's Gospel, Peter, James and John saw Jesus in glory. As they descended the mountain with Jesus, they wanted Him to tell them when the glory of the Kingdom of Heaven would be established. They were presuming that it would have some connection with the "return" of Elijah. Jesus told them, however, that the glory of the Kingdom had already been established. It had been established by His very coming into the world, particularly when His public mission had started. He implied that John the Baptist was the Elijah they had been expecting.

As time went by, even with Jesus' consoling and strengthening presence, the disciples probably ruefully accepted that the Kingdom would not be as exciting and glorious as they had expected. It was, however, there with them. It is with us now when we say and do by the grace of Jesus, and at his behest, when we bring happiness to the world, which will attract people to the joy and glory of the final, definitive Kingdom of Heaven.