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Posts Tagged ‘Prophet Elijah’
Download 19th Sunday Reflection Document
Reflection Questions
- The mountain of Horeb was another term for the famous Mt Sinai where Moses met face to face with God. Unlike Moses, Elijah is being chased. He challenged the Queen for putting statues of Baal in the temple, killed 400 Baal prophets and is running frightened in the desert. He seeks God. He experiences God in the ‘tiny whispering sound’ of God’s voice in prayer. Have you had an experience of doing something for God and it meets resistance? Where do you go to seek God? What would you say you have heard recently from God?
- In St Paul’s letter to the Romans, chapters 9-11 reflect a great sadness that the Jewish people – Paul’s own people – have not recognised and believed in Jesus. Have you experienced sorrow and anguish for someone who has not believed in Jesus or has left their christian faith? Consider placing them before God in prayer. Paul used this anguish to become an incredible missionary and very talented in preaching in a relevant way. How could you be more missionary?
- After feeding the 5000 people start to suggest that Jesus is the long awaited messiah. This has dangerous consequences. Herod, who has just killed John, could be identifying Jesus as the next target and threat to his power. He ‘compels’ (in the greek) the disciples to leave. Dissolves the crowd and goes up the mountain to pray. Not only does he wish to mourn the loss of John his close friend and cousin. He is also teaching the disciples about mission (Mt 14) and seeks to be grounded in prayer with God.
- A boat tossed about in the sea has always been an early symbol of the Church. In the middle east the rough sea was considered a symbol of darkness and chaos. Throughout history many storms have caused the Church to cry out to Jesus for help. Walking on water is a display of Jesus’ power over all chaos and darkness along with his use of the Divine Name ‘It is I’. A simplification of the divine name given to Moses on Mt Sinai. While the english uses ‘tossed about’ the greek word is literally ‘tortured’. What forces torture you and the church today? Imaginatively enter the boat scene and hear Jesus personally say the words ‘ Take courage, do not be afraid’ to you. What would this mean for you?
- Peter represents church leadership but also the individual disciple. Urged to take the risk of obedience to Jesus’ word the ‘walk on the water to Jesus’ can be sunk by dwelling on the experience of strong winds and big waves. Problems. Fear. Sinking. What could you pray for God to ‘save’ the Church from today? Save you from today?
- Jesus is invited into the boat. The storm calms. Their crisis and Jesus’ help leads them to bow down humbly. Have you had an experience like this?
- What is one action that you will do to be ‘livingtheword’ this week?
Download 10th Sunday Yr C
Reflection Questions
- Elijah is a very special Prophet in the Old Testament. He does such great works of power in God’s name he was expected to return again to prepare and welcome the Messiah. Yet he suffered deeply. Elijah is being chased by King Ahaz and his ‘foreign’ wife Jezebel who imported over 700 prophets from her own religion attempting to turn Israel away from Yahweh. He seeks refuge in a Widows house and the son stops breathing! Have you ever felt nothing is going your way and blamed God? How could you develop the confidence of Elijah to move beyond moaning and trust in the power of prayer?
- In ancient Jewish society if a Widow loses her son it would most likely mean losing her legal title to land and home as well. She loses all her social security! In society today, who is vulnerable, without family support? Do you know the story of anyone suffering from HIV Aids? Homelessness? Addiction? Unemployment? A Migrant, Refugee? What action could be shared so that they might say ‘Now indeed I know that you are a person of God’?
- Paul’s first missionary journey took him to Galatia. The community there were very special for him. Unfortunately, after he had left, ‘Judaisers’ visited the community and claimed that Paul had ‘watered down the gospel’. Paul was not a ‘true Apostle’. They (the gentiles in Galatia) were told they needed to live many of the Jewish laws to be truly ‘saved’. Have you ever suffered from claims you are ‘watering down the gospel’ by not focussing on laws and commandments? What happened? Why do you think Paul made a journey to Jerusalem to visit Peter and James? Do you seek to move from conflict to communion?
- Another Widow appears in the Readings. Jesus is moved with pity for a vulnerable Widow. Strikingly Jesus willingly makes himself ‘unclean’ by touching a coffin (dead body) and then raises the ‘dead’ to ‘life’. And the truth is shouted… ‘God has visited his people’! Jesus is more powerful than Elijah (1st Reading). He is truly the promised Messiah. Finally the Kingdom of God, the poor being comforted and ‘lifted up’ is happening! Luke seeks to share discipleship is also continuing these ‘Kingdom activities’. Are you willing to get your hands and reputation ‘dirty’?
- Both Elijah and Jesus create a response of people glorifying God. What would help you arrive at a place in your heart where you are ‘moved with pity’ for those suffering? What words could you speak from God into your friendships and workplace? What actions could you live to bring comfort to modern-day ‘widows’? Is a ‘report’ spreading through the whole region that God is visiting his people ‘through you’?
- What is one action that you will do to be ‘livingtheword’ this week?
Download Reflection 32nd Sunday Yr B
Reflection Questions
- Behind the scenes of the first reading is a show of strength by God (Yahweh) over the worshippers of Baal (the god of fertility, rain, nature). Ahaz, the King of Israel, married Jezebel, allowed her to import her Baal priests and eventually she attempted to convert everyone to Baal worship. Elijah showed Gods strength by killing the priests of Baal and then proclaiming a drought as punishment on the land and teaching them that Yahweh is more powerful than Baal. Elijah himself has become hungry and thirsty. God tells him to go to Zarephath. This town was ‘enemy’ territory as it was the home of Jezebel’s Father! He would be met by a woman who would help him. A widow is on her last meal and desperate for survival. Open to God and showing hospitality she responds to Elijah. Her response is blessed by God…. ‘she was able to eat for a year…..’ Imagine this scene. Reflect on the obedience and trust of both Elijah and the Widow. Do you trust God? How could you show it?
- The Letter to the Hebrews paints a picture of the special Feast of Atonement described in Lev 16. The Priest would take blood into the Tent (Holy of Holies) and cover the mercy seat with blood to represent forgiveness of sins. The Priest would then appear at the entrance to the tent and announce forgiveness. Jesus has entered not a ‘tent’ but ‘heaven’ and his own blood has been offered as a ‘sacrifice to take away sin’. He will return – not to take away sin – but to welcome all those who eagerly await him. Do you look forward to Jesus’ second coming? Does Sunday Mass give you an experience of ‘salvation’ ‘at-one-ment’ where the Priest is holding up the gift of our reconciliation and communion with God?
- Scribes were experts at knowing and interpreting the religious laws of the Jewish People. When a Husband died, a widow was vulnerable and often without support if a ‘brother in law’ did not choose to marry her. With few legal rights, scribes at times became care-takers of widows property. They were supposed to protect the vulnerable but often ‘devoured’ the house and property of widows charging a commission for their services. At the same time they pretended to be ‘holy’ and continued to wear their temple garb into the streets to attract attention. Jesus does not condemn the role of someone interpreting the laws but invites authenticity. Who today is a modern ‘widow’ – vulnerable and in need of care? In what ways would Jesus’ words challenge the Church, Priests, Theologians, Lawyers, Politicians?
- The ‘treasury’ was 13 trumpet shaped containers that collected the coins, tithes and contributions of people at the Temple. A poor widow places all she has, in contrast to rich people giving to God something of their surplus. Love of God and Love of Neighbour will actually look like something. Is God honored by laws, lengthy prayers, long robes, large sums…. or the complete total trust and surrender of the poor widow with her 2 cents?
- Jesus now leaves the Temple and walks toward the event of his total and complete self-giving to the Father for the salvation of the world. Like the widows in the readings today he will ‘hold nothing back’ from God. How could you make a further step to give all that you are and have to God?
- What is one action that you will do to be ‘livingtheword’ this week?