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Explore the profound relationship between Elijah and God with insights from St. Edith Stein. Learn how Elijah’s life of zeal, penitence, and unwavering obedience can inspire us to deepen our own faith and commitment to serving God.
Music credit: Sean Beeson

The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
1 Kings 19:11–13

Elijah stands before God’s face because all of his love belongs to the Lord. He lives outside all natural human relationships. We hear nothing of his father and mother, nothing of a wife or child. His “relatives” are those who do the will of the Father as he does: Elisha, whom God has designated as his successor, and the “sons of the prophets,” who follow him as their leader.

Glorifying God is his joy. His zeal to serve God tears him apart: “I am filled with jealous zeal for the Lord, the God of hosts” (1 Kgs 19:10,14; these words were used as a motto on the shield of the Order). By living penitentially, he atones for the sins of his time. The offense that the misguided people give to the Lord by their manner of worship hurts him so much that he wants to die.

And the Lord consoles him only as he consoles his specially chosen ones: He himself appears to Elijah on a lonely mountain, reveals himself in soft rustling after a thunderstorm, and announces his will to him in clear words.

Saint Edith Stein

On the History and Spirit of Carmel (excerpt)
Augsburger Postzeitung
Sunday, 31 March 1935

St. Edith Stein’s reflection on Elijah offers profound insights into his life and mission. Elijah’s complete devotion to God is evident in his lack of typical familial ties; instead, his true relatives are those who do the will of the Father. His fervent zeal for God, encapsulated in his declaration, “I am filled with jealous zeal for the Lord, the God of hosts,” drives him to live a penitential life, atoning for the sins of his people.

Elijah’s unique relationship with God is marked by special consolations, such as the Lord’s appearance on a lonely mountain and His gentle whisper after the storm. This highlights the close, personal way God communicates with Elijah. Moreover, Elijah’s unwavering obedience and readiness to serve, standing before God’s face like the angels before the eternal throne, underscore his profound faith and trust in God.

As we reflect on Elijah’s life and the insights from St. Edith Stein, let’s strive to cultivate a deeper relationship with God, standing before Him with pure hearts, ready to serve and glorify Him in all we do.

Almighty, ever-living God,
your prophet Elijah, our Father,
lived always in your presence
and was zealous for the honor due to your name.
May we, your servants,
always seek your face
and bear witness to your love.

Stein, E. 2014, The Hidden Life: hagiographic essays, meditations, spiritual texts, translated from the German by Stein, W, ICS Publications, Washington DC.

Featured image: Adobe Firefly AI graphics created this image of the cave that sheltered Elijah from the wind, earthquake, and fire. Image credit: Carmelite Quotes

https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/07/19/ep12elijah/

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