The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate the role of our relationship with God in guiding our charity and the precepts with which we navigate our lives.
The Reading from the First Book of Kings presents Elijah’s conflict with the prophets 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 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 16 rejects the futile worship of false gods.
* [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, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Matthew proclaims Jesus Teaching About the Law in the Sermon on the Mount.
* [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.
* [5:19] Probably these commandments means those of the Mosaic law. But this is an interim ethic “until heaven and earth pass away.” (Matthew, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)
Rev. Kent Beausoleil, SJ, comments that we have the invitation—some would even say a ‘call’—to collaborate, co-labor, co-create with God. Jesus, seems to be egging on his listeners back then, as well as us today, to make a stance. This fulfillment is not a passive event. It demands active participation.
In the end then, the choice is ours always, but the needed commitment to work for the building of God’s plan of salvation requires our collaboration. Will you come sow the good seed of God’s love, water it, and help it to grow, or will your action destroy the possibility of divine love coming to have ever greater life? Will you help me Jesus asks, to fulfill God’s plan for your own, and the world’s growth (or groaning) to fulfillment? In the end then, this fulfillment is not a passive event. It demands active participation. (Beausoleil, 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)
[Note: Chromatius was an early Christian scholar and bishop of Aquileia, Italy. He was a close friend of John Chrysostom and Jerome. He died in 406 AD. Jerome described him as a "most learned and most holy man."] (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on 1 Kings 18:20-39 comments that our world is not so different from Elijah’s. Violent atrocities dominate the headlines. In a world with so much injustice, it’s easy to wonder why God doesn’t just come and destroy all evildoers so that the righteous can live in peace.
But look at the fire on Carmel, and you’ll see something different. You’ll see God reaching out to accept your offerings just as he accepted Elijah’s. You’ll see his fire surrounding your prayers, your acts of obedience, and the sacrifices you make in serving his people. He never rejects the offering of a heart intent on loving him!
“Here I am, Father; I offer you my thoughts, my words, and my actions—my very life—as a sacrifice of praise!” (Meditation on 1 Kings 18:20-39, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that the reading from 1 Kings is in the context of Elijah having been persecuted by Queen Jezebel, who was descended from a family of a pagan priesthood. In the contest with the priests of Baal and embarrassment to the Queen on her home territory, Elijah calls for “Fire from the Shy” to determine the true god of fertility. The priests of Baal are mocked by Elijah and when Baal does not respond, the Prophet of Israel declares the non-existence of Baal and that Yahweh is also a God of fertility. In the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s Gospel, the instruction to observe the smallest part of the Law seems in contrast with the message of Paul. Friar Jude proposes that the demographics of the Church growing among Gentiles tended to favour accepting Paul and we tend to keep very few of the Jewish Laws even as Matthew asserts that we are the New Israel.
The daily meditation from the Center for Action and Contemplation was not available at publication time.
We seek the wisdom of the Spirit as we contemplate the meaning of observing the Law to our Baptismal Anointing as priest, prophet, and leader in our community.
References
Beausoleil, K. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved June 10, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-june-10-2026
Matthew, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 10, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/5?
Meditation on 1 Kings 18:20-39. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved June 10, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/06/10/1589288/
1 Kings, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 10, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1kings/18?
Psalms, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB. (n.d.). Retrieved June 10, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/16?1
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Great Are Those Who Teach and Obey the Commandments. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 10, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/
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