Scripture:
1 Kings 18:20-39
Matthew 5:17-19
Reflection:
Today we are called to make resolute decisions about our life’s faith journey.
In the first reading from the 1st Book of Kings, “Elijah appealed to all the people and said, How long will you straddle the issue? If the LORD is God, follow him; if Baal, follow him.” The people, however, did not answer him.”
In Matthew’s gospel reading, after informing his disciples that he had come to fulfill the law, Jesus admonishes them: “Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.
Jesus, our own “prophet”, is calling us to accept his teachings, his kingdom, and his Father. He has fulfilled the law through his ministry, passion and death. We have a continuous daily opportunity to choose between our God, who works miracles in our lives every day, just as he brought the fire to Elijah’s offering upon Elijah’s first call, or the many gods of the “four hundred and fifty prophets” calling us away in so many other ways.
One tells us to cheat on an exam. Another tells us to pass along a piece of gossip about someone who is struggling with a behavioral issue. Another tells us to skip Mass on Sunday so we can sleep in, play that golf game that we have been longing to, or simply lounge around in front of the TV. Yet another tempts us to lie about someone’s unique achievement that we are jealous of. The list goes on and on every day of our lives. We are all too familiar with such frequent temptations. We might also sometimes find ourselves in the unenviable position of becoming one of those “four hundred and fifty prophets” tempting others to follow in our deceitful ways. Jesus is quite clear that in such instances we “will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven”.
However, unlike the silent Israelites who did not answer Elijah, we have been blessed with the presence of Christ in our lives and can follow his example and proclaim his teachings. Like the virgins before the wedding feast who had brought enough oil to trim their lamps, we can pray and focus on the good that we are each capable of as opposed to the evil that tempts us at every turn. Through our faithful lives, we have the opportunity to be prepared to face the challenges and temptations of the potential evil that surrounds us. With conscious attentiveness to the godliness of our own decisions we can ourselves someday be “called greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
I pray that each of us at the end of life’s journey will be honored to be one of those greatest in the Kingdom based on the decisions that we make every day of our life.
Bill Berger has had a lifelong relationship with the Passionist Family. Bill and his wife, Linda, are currently leaders of the Community of Passionist Partners (CPPs) in Houston, Texas.