The desolation which we
experience in our journey is identified by the psalmist in the texts from the
Roman Catholic Lectionary today. Events in life position us such that we find
it difficult to see beyond the tragedy and turmoil to the peace in the light
from the face of God. The Prophet Elijah is commemorated in the passage from
the Book of Sirach. This book is categorized by Friar Jude Winkler as one of
the last of the time of the Hebrew testament. (an apocryphal book due to lack
of Hebrew original text). The Gospel from Matthew, the Jew writing to Jews
about Jesus Kingdom as the Messiah, presents John the Baptist as the bridge
between Hebrew and Christian testaments. John and Elijah point to the
situations in our lives where we have replaced faith in God with trust in idols
and human solutions to the problems which are the background to our inability
to find God active in our time. Our call is to live simply and justly, aware of
the Presence, as we use our lives to demonstrate love and compassion to all.
This is proclaimed by these Prophets of restoration. The Kingdom of Heaven is
realized in the relationship with Jesus as we respond to the Prophets to cast
off our reliance on idols and guides of human construct which bring consequences
full of human frailty and imperfection. Like Elijah who showed drought, or
false fertility, was the fruit of false gods, darkness and turmoil is fruit of
lifestyle not focused on living Love.
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