One of my favorite places in Israel was Mt Carmel. From the overlook we could see the place where Elijah beat the 400 prophets of Baal. It is a clearing that we overlooked from the Our Lady of Mt Carmel church area. It was sort of a plain. If you have forgotten, the story goes that the Israelites had started to worship other gods. They adopted the house gods of the local people. One of those was Baal. There were prophets who spoke for Baal and told the people what to do. The people forgot that there was only one God who had rescued them and led them to freedom from Egypt. They forgot the Red Sea and the manna and the 10 Commandments. Like people of today, they went about their lives and did what was easy and comfortable and accepted by their neighbors. They forgot that they belonged to God. They forgot that they were His people.
Even after Elijah beat the prophets of Baal he had to run for his life. The people didn't accept the word of God. Elijah was pretty discouraged. I can understand that, I really can. People today have surely forgotten who they belong to, whose people they are. It is easier to reject God and go with whatever the masses say. It is easy to have their own way.
Elijah was so discouraged that he gave up. He thought that he would starve to death, but God had another plan for him. God whispered. While I am certainly not Elijah, I am discouraged. It seems the people have gone crazy. They worship politicians and prophets of doom. In the readings this past Sunday, I heard God saying to me to continue to be faithful. That even if the world is crazy, God will call them back. I am praying for that, I really am.
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