The Thurible RECTOR’S NOTES “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19) As if God didn’t know. But perhaps the Lord wanted to hear his prophet’s own status update for himself. Elijah, the first of the great prophets was on the run. In ninth century northern Israel, beating and extinguishing the ministers of the established religion – the prophets of Baal – was a career-ending and life-ending choice. Only six chapters in First and Second Books of Kings (1 Kings 17-19, 21 and 2 Kings 1-2) contain the entire narrative cycle about Elijah. The episodes of his prophetic life are a great read: prophetic meteorology, gastronomic miracles, resurrection, competitive oblations, murder, intrigue, theophany, succession planning and a fiery ascension – there is more in the plot line than in many a novel! Mount Carmel in northern Israel was the crucible of the action. King Ahab (1 Kings 18) called together the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel. Elijah issued a challenge to them and their god. Two bulls were prepared for sacrifice. The prophets of Baal and Elijah the prophet of Yahweh compete by calling upon their respective gods to send fire for the sacrifice. (It was prophetic
forerunner of the Olympics.) Elijah aced the opposing prophets and had them killed. Two millennia later, during the crusades in the twelfth century, Christians began to live as hermits on Mount Carmel. They, “following the example of Elijah, a holy man and a lover of solitude, adopted a solitary life-style on Mount Carmel, near a spring called Elijah’s Fountain.” http:// www.carmelites.net/about/ history/ So began the Order of Carmelites. “Two great figures in the Bible have inspired Carmelites through their 800-year history. Elijah, the fiery prophet of Carmel, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, have helped the community see how to be contemplative and active; prayerful and prophetic; reflective and apostolic. Elijah and Mary are human models. Just as many of us wonder about the best way to live our lives, they felt paralyzing fear, faced difficult questions, and were hurt deeply because of choices they made.”
Inform. Inspire. Invite.
INSIDE:
Today at St. James’
Formation on Sunday Growing in the Knowledge of God
Resourcing Our Faith Liturgy Quote of this Week
Opportunities to Serve Our Parish
Dido’s “Did You Know?”
Saints This Week Daily Lectionary
Mass this Week
Lent is a time when we may hear Christ ask us, “What are you doing here?” Where are we in our baptismal vocation and ministry? Fr. Mark Greenaway-Robbins THE THURIBLE | 25