Tagged: message of the day

“And all the trees of the field shall know that I, the Lord, bring low the high tree, lift high the lowly tree, wither up the green tree, and make the withered tree bloom.” –Ezekiel 17:24 The Bible begins with the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gn 2:9). It ends with the trees of life on the banks of the river of life-giving waters in heaven (Rv 22:1-2). Ezekiel described the Messianic kingdom as a majestic cedar tree on a high mountain (Ez 17:22-23). In contrast, Jesus described His kingdom in a...

“Then [Elisha] left and followed Elijah as his attendant.” –1 Kings 19:21 The culmination of Elijah’s earth-shaking ministry was when he heard God whisper to him to anoint Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha (1 Kgs 19:15-16). Personally, Elijah anointed only Elisha. The other two anointings were done by Elisha, Elijah’s disciple, and by another disciple of Elisha. Elijah’s great mission was completed by discipleship (see 1 Kgs 19:21). When Jesus was hanging on the cross before His death, he commanded one of His disciples, representing all His disciples, to accept Mary as the mother of all His disciples (see Jn 19:27)....

“There was a tiny whispering sound.” –1 Kings 19:12 God communicates in myriad ways. On occasion, the Lord roars (Am 1:2; 3:8) and thunders (Ps 29:3, 7-9). However, a major characteristic of God’s communication with mankind is His whisperings and His silence. The Lord often whispers, as He did to the prophet Elijah. He is gentle (Mt 11:29). “He will not contend or cry out, nor will His voice be heard in the streets” (Mt 12:19). God is regularly found in silence. Often the Lord seemingly “hides,” for example, in the tabernacle or in the Eucharist. Therefore, we must “seek...

“Seven times he said, ‘Go look again!’ ” –1 Kings 18:43 Elijah prayed seven times for something that was good, something that was promised: the rain necessary to end a famine of three-and-a-half years. It took more than one prayer. Sometimes we must persevere in prayer. God certainly hears us the first time we pray, if our prayer comes from a forgiving, humble heart of service to Him (see Sir 35:16-17). Elijah did not grow skeptical the first time he prayed for rain and no rain came. He believed God and trusted Him, and prayed yet again, seven times (1...

“Answer me, Lord! Answer me, that this people may know that You, Lord, are God and that You have brought them back to their senses.” –1 Kings 18:37 The Lord gave Elijah the job of bringing down the idolatrous kingdom of the wicked Ahab and Jezebel. Elijah prophesied that it would not rain for three years (1 Kgs 17:1), and no rain fell. This crippled the economy, but Ahab and Jezebel survived. Then Elijah called down fire from heaven on Mt. Carmel and slit the throats of 450 prophets of the false god, Baal (1 Kgs 18:40). Nevertheless, Ahab, and...