It is 8th June 2020. The readings are from 1 Kings 17:1-6, and the Gospel from Matthew 5:1-12.
“Elijah” means “the Lord is my God.” The most prominent prophet of people of Israel. Every prophet is expected to receive the Word of God, obeys it and delivers it effectively without fear.
Fearlessly pointing out the king Ahab to serve God, the prophet was summoned by God to hide in the mountains where God provided him from God’s providence. The symbolic withdrawal of the prophet is the sign of withholding God’s blessings and God distancing himself from God’s people. “The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the wadi.” (1 Kings.17:6). Those who obey the Word of God sustained from the providence of God. People tasted hunger and drought while the prophet was provided miraculously by God. The prophet solely depended on God and his intercession was effective. He announced the drought during the time when the king and the people were not faithful to God but to a deity. “The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful.” (James 5:16). God brought drought at the word of the prophet’s prayer. When we have the spirit of docility like that of prophet Elijah, we recognize the protection and security of God in our life. Ignoring God’s Word inflicts overwhelming pain in our lives. God never forgets God’s people. It is we who abandon God for our personal reasons.
The responsorial Psalm intercedes, “Our help is from the Lord who made heaven and earth.” (Ps.121:2).
The Gospel presents us with the Beatitude from the Sermon on the Mount. The poor in Spirit, the mourners, the meek, the hungry, the merciful, the innocent, the peacemakers, and the persecuted will have their due as long as they depend on God’s Word. The wind of evil and persecution will never stop blowing even when good people are at the helm of affairs. The blueprint for happiness is outlined in the Beatitude. It is the vision of Jesus and a synthesis and a summary of His entire preaching. It is the new law of love and a non-violent response to the growing violence in and around us. “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Mt. 5:12). Violence is not the solution to any human owes and oppression. Let us not give in and blindly follow roots and plans of violence as the only response to the suffering and pain induced by others. Living the Beatitude is need of bringing God’s rule, and kingdom among the poor and the needy. May the Lord help us to adhere God’s Word to be the light of our life. God bless you.