Elijah

‘There were many in Israel in the time of Elijah the prophet when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land.’  Luke 4

Even in the presence of prophets, there is suffering.  It doesn’t matter if it is Elijah or Elisha or Jesus himself who prompts us to action.  If we dismiss their call, we remain in sorrow.

You see, it isn’t just the role of the prophet alone to ease the misery of this world.  It is the responsibility of all people of faith.  We cannot just sit back and make excuses and expect others to take up the task of caring for the lowly and the needy.  We need to take their message to heart, and be models of justice and compassion.

In interviewing the candidates for confirmation last night, I asked them what they did for their service projects, and got them to talk a little about the good they accomplished through the hours they spent doing them.  And I tried to impress upon them that we are called to continue to do these types of things all the time, that God has given us these gifts and talents to use to assist others.

May our Lenten observances and practices truly open our eyes and hearts to those the Lord sends into our midst, be they prophets or everyday people, and in cooperating with them and assisting them, truly help to build the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.