AD SENSE

10th Week, Thursday, Jun 9

10th Week, Thursday, Jun 9

1 Kings 18:41-46 / Matthew 5:20-26 

Now, go and eat: Elijah sat with his head between his knees.

Elijah’s words to Ahab, “Now, go and eat,” suggest he even got the king to fast to petition God to send rain upon the land. Elijah’s strange posture suggests that he was engaging in intense prayer. Prayer and fasting are often joined in Scripture. King David fasted and prayed for his infant son. (2 Samuel 12:16) Ezra and the people fasted and prayed for protection. (Ezra 8:21) The early Church fasted and prayed before sending Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. (Acts 13:3). The nation of Israel fasted and prayed in time of national need. (2 chronicles 20:3-6); Jesus fasted and prayed in the desert. (Luke 4:2)

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When was the last time we not only prayed but also joined fasting to it? “I know now . . .there is no prayer without fasting.” Mohandas Gandhi

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The present weather in Singapore can be rather uncomfortable. It can be so hot and humid, and the little rain that comes along does not cool things down much. But no matter what we say about the weather, we in Singapore have not experienced drought, not even severe drought. We have not gone for months, or even years without any rain at all. But some of us may remember that in the past when there was a prolonged dry spell, and the water level in our reservoirs was at an alarming low, there was water-rationing. So, we can imagine what it was like to have a drought for three and a half years, without a drop of rain! 

That was the situation in the 1st reading. The land of Israel was experiencing drought for three and a half years already and there was also the consequent famine. But king Ahab was not that bothered by it at all. In his mind, the drought would end, the rains will come, and the famine will be resolved. So we may understand why the prophet Elijah told Ahab, "Go back, eat and drink". It was more like a scornful remark about his indifference about the sufferings of his people and his selfish concern. King Ahab was a figure of a hardness of heart and he had grown coarse from constantly rejecting the Lord. He had seen the fire from heaven which consumed Elijah's sacrifice, he had seen the 450 prophets of the idol Baal slain by Elijah, his people were suffering from drought and famine. But he still didn't even bother to turn to the Lord for help. Instead, it was Elijah who did the praying. 

We may not have the hardness and coarseness of heart like king Ahab, but Jesus warns us that if our virtues go no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees in the gospel, then we may know what it truly means to be a disciple. 

And if our virtues go no deeper than those who are not Christians, then it may also mean that the teachings of Jesus have not soften our hearts, and our souls are like a land dry and weary from drought and famine. 

Jesus wants to shower His blessings on us and soften our hearts with His love so that our hearts will bear fruits of forgiveness and reconciliation.

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DISCIPLES ARE RECONCILERS:                        

 Introduction: Elijah prayed and the rains came. Faith can move mountains. The believer draws from his faith the power to do what looks impossible. If he trusts God, he becomes strong with God’s power. This is the impact and intent of the “fioretti” of Elijah. But the theological ground of it is solid: God does not abandon those who trust in him and gives them a strength beyond their human potentials. 

In the Gospel, Christ tells us that our practice of love should go farther than that of the Scribes and Pharisees. All laws and the whole discipleship are based on love and creating a climate of love in which Christians do not only not kill in acts of violence but not even damage relationships in words and thoughts. Love at its deepest is shown in forgiveness without conditions, even if the one wrong is the other person! That’s not easy at all! 

Opening Prayer: Our God of love, permeate us so deeply with the mentality of the Good News of your Son, Jesus Christ, that in us, there remains no room for violence, hatred, or looking down on others. Help us to create among us, an atmosphere of trust and deep love that we give first place to the needs of others and forget ourselves for their sake. Let there be among us forgiveness without regret as was taught to us by Christ, our Lord.   

 Intentions:

–          For all of us, that we may never put the law above people but practice first the great commandment of loving one another, we pray:

–          For those who feel hurt by others, that they may learn the difficult lesson of forgiving wholeheartedly, we pray:

         For our communities, that we may seek God’s will together, accept one another, respect each other’s freedom and bear witness to God’s kindness, we pray:

  Prayer over the Gifts: Lord our God, here are our gifts of bread and wine.  Let there be peace among us, even if, rightly or wrongly, someone has something against us. Even if it is very hard, we want to seek reconciliation with one another, for the sake of him who has brought us reconciliation with you at the cost of his life, Jesus Christ, our Lord forever.    

Prayer after Communion: Lord our God, let our communities be places of deep love and friendship and unlimited reconciliation. For we have listed and accepted the word of your Son and we have celebrated his sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins of the new and everlasting covenant. May we also celebrate in everyday life the reconciliation you sent us through Jesus Christ, our Lord.