The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us of our mission to live out our Baptismal identity as priest, prophet and king.
The reading from the First Book of Kings describes Elijah’s triumph over the priests of Baal.
* [18:1–45] The story of the conflict with the prophets of Baal (vv. 21–40) is embedded in the story of the drought and its ending (vv. 1–20, 41–45). The connection between the two stories is found in Canaanite theology, in whose pantheon Baal, “the Cloud Rider,” the god of rain and storm, was recognized as the one who brings fertility. Worship of many gods was virtually universal in the ancient world; the Israelite requirement of exclusive worship of the Lord (Ex 20:3) was unique. The people of Israel had apparently become comfortable worshiping both Baal and the Lord, perhaps assigning mutually exclusive spheres of influence to each. By claiming authority over the rain (17:1; 18:1), the Lord was challenging Baal’s power in Baal’s own domain. The entire drought story in chaps. 17–18 implies what becomes explicit in 18:21–40: this is a struggle between the Lord and Baal for the loyalties of the people of Israel. (1 Kings, CHAPTER 18, n.d.)
Psalm 16 is a song of trust and security in God.
* [Psalm 16] In the first section, the psalmist rejects the futile worship of false gods (Ps 16:2–5), preferring Israel’s God (Ps 16:1), the giver of the land (Ps 16:6). The second section reflects on the wise and life-giving presence of God (Ps 16:7–11). (Psalms, PSALM 16, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus Sermon on the Mount turns to the role of the Law and the Prophets.
* [5:17–20] This statement of Jesus’ position concerning the Mosaic law is composed of traditional material from Matthew’s sermon documentation (see note on Mt 5:1–7:29), other Q material (cf. Mt 18; Lk 16:17), and the evangelist’s own editorial touches. To fulfill the law appears at first to mean a literal enforcement of the law in the least detail: until heaven and earth pass away nothing of the law will pass (Mt 5:18). Yet the “passing away” of heaven and earth is not necessarily the end of the world understood, as in much apocalyptic literature, as the dissolution of the existing universe. The “turning of the ages” comes with the apocalyptic event of Jesus’ death and resurrection, and those to whom this gospel is addressed are living in the new and final age, prophesied by Isaiah as the time of “new heavens and a new earth” (Is 65:17; 66:22). Meanwhile, during Jesus’ ministry when the kingdom is already breaking in, his mission remains within the framework of the law, though with significant anticipation of the age to come, as the following antitheses (Mt 5:21–48) show. (Matthew, CHAPTER 5, n.d.)
Kimberly Grassmeyer prays that on those good days she will continue to grow in faith, faithfulness, and fidelity to the teachings of Jesus, and become more regular in efforts to "obey and teach these commandments.”
Do you have a relationship with someone - Jesus or a beloved human like my Grandmother - that can encourage your better angels, your better adherence to the commandments, your better effort to teach and model for others? Not so that you reach the Kingdom of heaven - again, that is already assured - but to arrive content with the level of your efforts here on earth? I hope so! And perhaps we can pray for each other in that endeavor? May God bless you and your good works. (Grassmeyer, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “What you teach, you should do,” by Chromatius (died 406 AD).
"While it is sinful to abolish the least of the commandments, all the more so the great and most important ones. Hence the Holy Spirit affirms through Solomon: 'Whoever despises the little things shall gradually die' (Sirach 19:1b). Consequently nothing in the divine commandments must be abolished, nothing altered. Everything must be preserved and taught faithfully and devotedly that the glory of the heavenly kingdom may not be lost. Indeed, those things considered least important and small by the unfaithful or by worldly people are not small before God but necessary. For the Lord taught the commandments and did them. Even small things point to the great future of the kingdom of heaven. For this reason, not only words but also deeds are important; and you should not only teach, but what you teach, you should do." (excerpt from TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 20.2.1-3) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on 1 Kings 18:20-39 comments that as we bring the needs and situations of the people around us to the Lord, ask him to help us rejoice for the things that make his heart rejoice and to hurt for the things that make his heart hurt. Ask him as well to give us words that we can share with them. Then, look for opportunities to share those words.
Being a prophetic voice requires courage. It can be tempting to stay quiet as the people around Elijah did, but don’t let that happen. Embrace your prophetic calling, and help others to recognize that God is indeed worthy of all their trust. “Holy Spirit, give me the courage and boldness to speak the truth of your love to everyone I meet.” (Meditation on 1 Kings 18:20-39, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the Hebrew expression of the superlative in the account of Elijah’s triumph over the priests of Baal. Monotheism in Israel resulted as Yahweh is proclaimed as the only God, not just the greatest of many gods. Friar Jude suggests that demographics caused the preference for the attitude of Paul over that of Matthew concerning the Law.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that God’s Spirit in the Bible is identified with the Hebrew word ruach, which can also mean breath. Korean-American theologian Grace Ji-Sun Kim explores the Spirit’s creative power in the Old Testament.
The Spirit of God is recognized at the beginning of the Bible as it plays its role in the creation story. The Holy Spirit as breath is the force that gives life to all life in the cosmos (Genesis 1:2). As it does so, creation becomes understood as an act of God. The Holy Spirit moves the biosphere and gives life to everything in it. . . . The Old Testament shows the Spirit—not just any spirit, but a life-giving Spirit of God—as the divine power that creates, sustains, and renews life (Genesis 1:2). This power of the Spirit is found in the prophetic books of Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Joel. For God to bring breath to dry bones shows the power of the Spirit to give life, always. Even in situations of death, sorrow, despair, and hopelessness, the Spirit can move us and create a space of joy to be alive. If it can bring back to life what was dead, what more can the Spirit do for us?! (Rohr, n.d.)
Our Baptismal anointing to lead may be activated by the Holy Spirit to pray with and counsel the people we encounter on our journey.
References
Grassmeyer, K. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved June 8, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/060822.html
Matthew, CHAPTER 5. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved June 8, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/5?17
Meditation on 1 Kings 18:20-39. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved June 8, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/06/08/406914/
1 Kings, CHAPTER 18. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved June 8, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1kings/18?20
Psalms, PSALM 16. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved June 8, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/16?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). The Spirit Is a Life-Force. Daily Meditations Archive: 2022. Retrieved June 8, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-spirit-is-a-life-force-2022-06-08/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture ... Retrieved June 8, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=jun8
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