On Sunday, July 20, Patriarch Daniel was present at the wooden church of the “Saint Mary” Monastery in Urlați, Prahova County, where he spoke to the faithful about the Holy Prophet Elijah the Tishbite:
“The Holy Prophet Elijah the Tishbite wrote no book, unlike other prophets. Yet, he is called by the Church the foundation of the prophets, that is, a reference prophet.”
“However, he remained great, the Prophet Elijah, through his deeds and miracles, a prophet who prefigured or foreshadowed future works of our Lord Jesus Christ,” said His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.
“The fact that Elijah ascends to heaven in a fiery chariot prefigures the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ on a luminous cloud, and the descent of fire from heaven on the sacrifice at Carmel prophetically prefigures the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles at Pentecost, as well as the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Eucharistic gifts, on the bread and wine that become the Body and Blood of Christ.”
What is the true faith?
The second aspect is particularly highlighted by Elijah’s demonstration of the true faith to the Jewish people. Elijah challenged the priests of Baal and Asherah on Mount Carmel to show who the true God was.
King Ahab and Queen Jezebel brought 850 priests of the idols Baal and Asherah, and after their priests failed to call down fire from heaven for their sacrifice, Elijah prayed and fire from God consumed his sacrifice. This miracle showed the people that the true God was Elijah’s God.
“When Elijah prayed to the true God, fire came down on the sacrifice and burned the meat, wood, and even the stones of the altar. Then all the people saw that the true God was the God of Elijah, and the priests of Baal and Asherah were killed,” Patriarch Daniel said.
His Beatitude explained the etymology of the prophet’s name and noted the connection between the name and Elijah’s victory over idolatry.
“Elijah’s name in Hebrew is Eliahu, which means ‘The Lord is my God’ or ‘My God is the Lord.’ This victory of Elijah over false faith, that is, idolatry, made him even more beloved by the people.”
After this victory, King Ahab and Queen Jezebel sought to kill him. Elijah then fasted for 40 days and nights and took refuge on Mount Horeb.
Mercy and resurrection
Thirdly, Elijah was merciful, a helper of orphans and widows, showing love and care for those in need. He performed the miracle of multiplying flour and oil in the house of the widow of Zarephath and raised her son from the dead.
“Because the king and queen wanted to kill him, Elijah crossed the border into another country, in the region of Sidon, where there was another political authority. After the brook Cherith dried up, he went to live in Zarephath, in the house of a poor widow who had a son, her only child, orphaned of his father,” His Beatitude recounted.
“The woman told Elijah that she had gathered the last sticks and with the last handful of flour and a little oil left, she was going to make a cake to eat herself and her child and then die of hunger.”
“Then Elijah told the widow woman from Zarephath that as long as he stayed in her house, neither the flour nor the oil would run out. And indeed, they did not run out.”
The saint’s prayer was so powerful that God heard him and raised the widow’s son who had hosted the prophet Elijah.
“One day, however, the child of this woman died, and the woman mourned greatly, crying, believing that because of her past sins the child had died. But Saint Elijah encouraged her and said he would raise the child through his prayers to God. And indeed, he raised the widow’s son and gave him back to his mother,” added the Patriarch.
Photo credit: Basilica.ro / Raluca Ene
