Scripture readings for today's reflection can be found at Friday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB
Over the last few days, we have been reading from the
first book of Kings and the struggles of the prophet Elijah. On Wednesday we
heard of the struggle between Elijah and the false prophets of Baal, and how
the people were turning away from God to worship this false god. After
proving that there was one true God, Elijah would go on to kill these false
prophets. Then Elijah, fearing for his life because of threats against him
after what he did on Mount Carmel, ran to get away from those that wanted to
kill him.
After all that he did for God, Elijah felt abandoned
by God and felt isolated because of all that had happened since Mount Carmel. Elijah
was attempting to live out his life in obedience to God, and it seemed that God
wasn’t present any longer. He searched for God in the strong and heavy wind,
but God wasn’t there. He searched for God in the earthquake and fire, but
couldn’t find God present there, either. It wasn’t until Elijah had settled
down and listened for God in silence that he was able to hear and to feel God’s
presence within him. Elijah shares his frustration with God and says, “I have been most zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. But the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant…” Elijah remained true to God, even with the
obstacles that faced him by those who wanted him dead for his belief in God. Elijah
remained steadfast to the one, true God of Israel.
We, too, struggle in our belief in God as we attempt
to share it with those in our lives that may not understand our love and
devotion to Him. What should always be central in our lives is our belief in
one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. People may not share our beliefs, but we
are to remain true to our call to be followers of Jesus Christ. Further, as we live out our lives, we need,
like Elijah, to make some quiet time for God. We will not hear God in the
busyness of our daily lives, but rather in those quiet moments of prayer and
our regular reading of scripture and frequent attendance at Mass. It’s during
those quiet times of prayer that we can truly hear God’s voice speaking to us and
what He has in mind for each of us as we attempt to serve him as we live out
our lives.
As we pray and meditate on our relationship with our
loving God, let us make the prayer of Elijah our prayer as well: “I have been most zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts.” Amen.
I love reading that although wind, thunder, & earthquakes can represent & signal the Presence & the might & power of GOD, the LORD is really found in "a still small voice", also known as "a tiny whispering sound". Although our GOD is a GOD Who is OMNIPOTENT & AWESOME, His heart is LOVING. GENTLE & TENDER & that is the way He desires to relate to us, His people, & He desires for us to know Him & to realize that He fully knows & loves us.
ReplyDeleteFrom Nilda: Dear Deacon Tom,
ReplyDeleteI have always enjoyed reading this selected scripture, I Kings 19:9-14 because it has taught me the best way to pray to God or as Holy Mother, St. Teresa of Jesus says, 'to be in conversation with the Lord'.
There is no doubt, that God hears and answers our prayers, always, according to what He knows is best for us and not according to what we want. However, we can only hope to acknowledge His response, according to Mother Teresa of Jesus, who proposed to teach her Sisters how to reach union with God through prayer, with the steps to follow, as part of her writings in her book, Way of Perfection:
~ to set the time and the place in an appropriate manner to be in conversation with the Lord (whereby the surroundings reflect an atmosphere of reverence), with the least possibility of disturbance
~ and with a clear understanding of 'who we are addressing and who we are in relation to Him'.
~ in addition, we should determine to end our prayer with the words, (according to the Lord's Prayer which Jesus taught his disciples when addressing God, the Father), "May Your will be done on Earth as it in Heaven".
These are the steps that I follow and I find them fruitful throughout my spiritual life.
I agree with your writing, as well, Deacon Tom: "We will not hear God in the busyness of our daily lives, but rather in those quiet moments of prayer and our regular reading of scripture and frequent attendance at Mass. It’s during those quiet times of prayer that we can truly hear God’s voice speaking to us and what He has in mind for each of us as we attempt to serve him as we live out our lives."
God is good, and He never fails to meet the needs of those who love and follow His precepts and His will according to what He knows is best for us. Amen
In Christ,
Nilda V., OCDS