ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 Dressed to Prophesy 

Fakateunga ki he Malanga faka-palofita

1 KINGS 19:19

SO [ELIJAH] DEPARTED FROM THERE AND FOUND ELISHA THE SON OF SHAPHAT, WHO WAS PLOWING WITH TWELVE YOKE OF OXEN IN FRONT OF HIM. AND HE WAS WITH THE TWELFTH. ELIJAH PASSED BY HIM AND CAST HIS CLOAK UPON HIM.

1 TU’I 19:19

Pea ne fononga mei ai, ‘o ne ma‘u ‘a ‘Ilaisa foha ‘o Sāfati ‘oku fai ‘ene palau ‘aki ha taulua‘i pulu ‘e hongofulu mā ua, ‘oku nau fakaholo atu, kae ‘i mui ia mo hono hongofulu mā ua; pea laka ange ‘a ‘Ilaisiā, ‘o ne lī ange ki ai hono pulupulu.

[LILIU FAKA-TONGA]

Ko hono fakahoko mai ‘e Matiu ‘a Sione Papitaiso, na’a ne pehee "ko e kofu ‘o Sione…na‘e ngaohi mei he fulufulu‘i kāmeli, pea fakama‘u leta ‘i hono kongaloto” (Matiu 3:4). Hange ‘oku ngali kehe ‘a e fakamatalaa. Ko ha na’e fakamatala’i pehe’i mai ai hono teunga? Ko e founga pe eni ‘a Matiu ‘o ‘ene talamai, ko Sione ‘a e “‘Ilaisiaa” na’e kikite’i ‘e Malakai (Malakai 4:5), he na’e teunga pehee mo ‘Ilaisiaa; “Ko e tangata fulufulu, mo no‘o leta ; Pea me‘a mai ‘e ia, Tā ko e Tisipī ko ‘Ilaisiā” (2 Tu’i 1:8). Na’e fakateunga ‘a Sione ke malanga faka-palofita. Na’e ‘i ai mo e teunga ‘o ‘Ilaisiaa, ko e ‘atileti (pulupulu), ‘a ee na’a ne li ange kia ‘Ilaisa ‘i hono ui ia (1 Tu’i 19:19). Ko e pulupulu eni, fakamavaeua’aki ‘a e vai Soatani pea na’e li hifo ki ai mei he saliote afi ‘i hono ‘ohake ‘o ‘Ilaisiaa ki langi (2 Tu’i 2:13). Ko e ‘atileti, na’e toe ngaue’aki ‘e ha ni’ihi kehe ‘o e kau palofita (Sakalaia 13:4).

Na’e mavahe ‘a ‘Ilaisiaa kae hoko mai ‘a ‘Elaisa; Na’e mavahe ‘a Sione kae hoko mai ‘a Sisu; ka na’e ‘ikai ke ma’u ‘e Sisu ha pulupulu meia Sione. Na’e ma’u ‘e Sisu ha me’a na’e fungani ange: ko e hala tokolelei ne tokateu ‘e he fakamelomelo. Ko Sione ‘a e le’o na’e kalanga ‘i he toafa, ke teuteu ‘a e pule’anga ‘o e Misaia; ‘a e sevaniti falengamamahi, na’e hu’i hono teunga fakamatelie ‘i he funga kolosi, ka ne fakateunga ‘a e fa’ahinga ‘o e tangata ‘aki ‘a e kofu ‘o e mo’ui ta’engata. 

Fakateunga kimautolu, ‘Eiki, ‘i he ngaahi kofu kuo lanu ‘i ho ta’ata’a, pea mau ma’a mo ta’e’ila ‘i ho ‘ao.

When Matthew introduces us to John the Baptist, he says he "wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist" (3:4). That seems odd. Why bother to describe his attire? This is Matthew's indirect way of making us aware that John is the "Elijah" whom Malachi prophesied (4:5), for Elijah too "wore a garment of hair, with a belt of leather about his waist" (2 Kings 1:8). John was dressed to prophesy. Elijah also wore an adderet ("mantle" or "cloak"), which he threw over Elisha when he called him (1 Kings 19:19), with which Elijah parted the Jordan and which he dropped for Elisha when the chariot whisked him up to heaven (2 Kings 2:13). An adderet was evidently worn by other prophets as well (Zech. 13:4).

Elijah gave way to Elisha, John gave way to Jesus, but Jesus inherited no mantle from John. He inherited something better: the smooth way prepared for him by this  forerunner. John, the voice crying in the wilderness, readied the nation for the Messiah, who, stripped bare on the cross, would clothe humanity with the raiment of life.

Deck us out in white garments, dear Lord, that we might appear pure and spotless before you.