Various aspects of Elijah's Prayer

Gospel Thoughts*

*Ordinary Season : 10th Week - Wednesday*

*Various aspects of Elijah's Prayer* 

*GOSPEL -  Mt 5:17-19*

*FIRST READING - 1 Kgs 18:20-39*

*1) To Show the Power of the Lord*

In the entire episode of Elijah's prayer, the power of the Lord becomes very clear 

When Elijah prayed, the fire from heaven consumed the offering and thus every one came to know the Power of prayer and the Power of the Lord 

*2) To Show that Elijah is the Real Servant of the Lord*

In His prayer to the Lord Elijah prays in the following words *LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things by your command.*

The Prayer and the entire episode showed that, Elijah was the real servant of the Lord 

*3) To Show people that there is no other god than the God of Israel*

The offering of the Bull, at Mount Carmel proved that there is no God other than the God of Israel. 

Finally People accepted this fact *Seeing this, all the people fell prostrate and said, “The LORD is God! The LORD is God!”*

*4) To bring back the people to the Lord*

The prayer and the Sacrifice on the Mount Carmel, made the people to realise their mistake and to come back to the presence of Real God, who is the God of Israel. 

*5) To solve the problem of False teaching*

Because of the false teaching there were problems among people 

Some followed Baal and others followed the God of Israel. 

Finally the prayer and the sacrifice on the Mount Carmel, solved this problem and people started to worship the Lord 

*6) To prove the power of Prayer*

Finally we see the power of prayer 

Nothing is impossible for prayer. Through prayer one can achieve anything in life 

*7) The need of Strong belief in Prayer*

When Elijah challenged the Prophets of Baal, He firmly believed in the power of prayer 

In no moment he doubted about the things that will going to happen. Such was his faith in prayer. 

*8) My life and prayer*

How strong is my prayer? 

How courageous i am to challenge some one in and through prayer? 

What are the aspects my prayer has? Is it only a self centred prayer or is it a other centred prayer??

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*