Thursday of the
Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
(I Kings 18:41-46; Matthew 5:20-26)
The seven sacraments use the most ordinary of objects to
relate God’s presence. Water, bread,
wine, oil, the human body: one does not have to go far to find the stuff that
conveys eternal life. Similarly in the
first reading God’s work is manifested in the simplest of forms on the horizon.
Elijah’s servant spies a wisp of a cloud in the
distance. It is hardly probably that such
a fluff will grow into the storm that the dry earth craves. But just as the Lord speaks later in the saga
through a gentle breeze, the cloud grows into a thunderhead to revive the
parched land.
We should not expect God to approach with trumpets
blaring. Indeed, it is much more
characteristic of Him to come to us subtly, perhaps in our meditation on
Scripture or in the depths of our consciousness when we pray with consistency. He
will indicate His desire for us, and it will lead to our benefit.
