Word to the Wise
Friday, June 12, 2020 - Friday in the 10th Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Kgs 19:9a, 11-16 and Matt 5:27-32]A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the Lord - but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake - but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was fire - but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound. When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave. A voice said to him, "Elijah, why are you here?" [1 Kings]
Elijah might have been tempted to say to the Lord, "Um...haven't you been paying attention recently?" Things in Israel were in a sorry state of affairs and Elijah was in hiding for fear of his life. Despite all that, God asks, "Elijah, why are you here?" Elijah gives his understandable reasons, but God ignores the reasons and gives him his marching orders, which includes appointing a successor for his prophetic ministry!
What is the way forward? Elijah and many a person in my ministry have asked that same question. Since I have spent many years in campus ministry (and now live in a Dominican campus ministry community), I have tried to help students in a quandry to find a way forward.. Elijah's experience can teach us something about this. Dramatic rescue is not likely. The challenge is to hear God's whisper over all the noise of our sorrows and problems. The process may begin with God's own question: "Elijah (or........), why are you here?" Both student and pastor can ask themselves that question. Both have to listen for the whisper of Wisdom. The wind, earthquake and fire of life's many challenges can drown out that whisper. But "the Lord will be passing by," as today's story tells us. God's challenge may be a simple one, "Leave your cave of fear and get on with doing the job I've given you to do!" Our reasons for hiding may seem overwhelming to us, but God's whisper will help clear that fog away. To find the way forward, we have to listen first! AMEN