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June 8, 2022“Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.”—Psalm 16
Last week a neighbor of mine who has difficulty walking asked me to drive him to the bank. Of course, I acquiesced. After taking care of his business, we walked to the store next door. He asked me to buy lotto tickets for him. Being housebound most of the time, buying lotto tickets is his entertainment. When I came outside, he gave me one lotto ticket as a “thank you.”
(I am not one to refuse freebies!) When I returned home, I carefully scratched off each of the 25 numbers. And, of course, not one number was lucky!
I sat down and actually went into a meditation about one lotto ticket. Where are my priorities in accepting a lotto ticket? When I was reflecting on today’s first reading from the Book of Kings, I thought of how much value the worshippers of Baal put on their god. I mused even more about my own priorities. Not only how I spend my money, but what are my values?
Actually, Jesus answers my question in today’s gospel. He did not come to earth to destroy all that the prophets did before him. No, as part of the sermon on the mount, Jesus is asking each of us to reflect on the meaning of the law and how we live it in our daily experiences. Perhaps, we interpret the law in terms of doing just enough. But Jesus is asking us to give all when we live the law. Later in the gospel Jesus fleshes out law through the beatitudes and works of mercy. In living these we never need to abolish but to fulfill.
We see that Elijah, too, is trying to get across the whole experience of choosing between a false god or following the living God. He goes through various hoops to prove to the people that they are worshipping a false god.
Nothing came from Baal. However, when Elijah’s prayer was answered in the form of a fire that consumed the offering, the people believed in the one, true God.
When we pray, do we need such overt miracles to prove that we are loved, cared for, and understood by the one, true God? Notice, how often in Scripture we are reminded of our participation in the Divine. We, too, have been given the role of prophet in Baptism. Unlike Elijah, we do not have to draw out fire from stone. Our principles, our actions, our manner of speaking, our faithfulness, our standing up for what it is just—all should reflect that we are followers of Christ.
Let’s take some time today—maybe over our mug of coffee—to talk to Jesus about our own priorities. Do we live our Baptismal commitment to be prophet? Or are we lazy and cowardly, hoping for some fire to come from the sky? No, we have hope in those gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit given to each of us in Baptism and Confirmation. If we respond to what has given us within, we don’t need firebrands or lotto tickets. Each of us is loved unconditionally by our God.
