As you might remember from Wednesday’s first reading, Elijah was the last prophet of God standing---when he challenged the people to choose between God and the pagan god Baal.
Well, although he had faith, and God had rewarded it…things weren’t going so well, and today, he’s running for his life. How many times have we heard of prophets like Elijah or Jonah who’ve faced long odds and tried to outrun either the opposition or, at times, God’s mission for them?
Perhaps, at times, we can relate to their situations or instinct to run and hide. In the case of Elijah, he’s seeking to preserve his life and hides in a cave, waiting for God to show up.
Maybe you’ve had one of those days when you’ve ducked into a chapel or church seeking refuge from the trials of family life, work, or school, hoping that God will provide the wisdom and strength to face the world again.
And, like Elijah, sometimes we hope for a dramatic sign or instant solution to our plight. But like Elijah learned God wasn’t in the strong and heavy wind, earthquake, or powerful fire but after all the drama and destruction in a tiny whispering sound.
Have you ever gone into a church when it was empty, sat or knelt, and discovered the tranquility and solitude of being alone with Jesus? Have you been there long enough to feel your shoulder muscles begin to relax, and your mind begins to stop the rapid rotation of thoughts and emotions? Have you been able to stay long enough to notice your breathing and heart rate calming down?
If you have, then you most certainly have been able to hear the ambient sound of a church: the hum of the fan or a-c, the birds outside, the expansion and contraction of the wooden structures in this sacred space. It is under these conditions, whether in a church, on a solitary walk up in the mountains or the forest, or beside the water, that we can hear the gentle whisper of God, telling us that He is with us and will lead us through whatever we are facing.
At times, it is the message of the Gospel to eliminate whatever is causing us to fall into sin and at other times, it is to better understand God’s plan as in the case of Elijah.
My brothers and sisters, God’s guidance, His speaking to us is available every day, and in every place we are, if only we have the faith of Elijah and listen and heed the psalmist who encourages us with the words: “Wait for the Lord with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord.”
If we believe, quiet ourselves, and wait, we will hear the Lord’s whispering and find the right path with Him, one step at a time. Don’t be afraid to enter into the quiet and to wait.
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