For all the hype on the popular television show, American Idol, there is another similar program called, Dancing with the Stars. One tests the singing ability of the contestant and the other the moves and rhythms that a participating couple will bring to the dance floor. Personally, I’d rather watch Olympic level figure skaters glide effortlessly around the ice ring; ballet on ice.
What we are amazed at watching is not only the self-confidence of such participants but their physical stamina to shift, jump, turn, and contort their body, in painful ways, all the while as they make such efforts look, well – effortless. This is the result of years of disciplined training and daily choices to stay focused on the goal of perfection in their sport. Yet, it all has a purpose: to produce good fruit from their disciplined choices.
Today’s 1st reading from the book of Kings holds perhaps a similar challenge. In 1 Kgs 18: 20-39, we hear the prophet Elijah, alone as a prophet of the Lord and up against 450 prophets of Baal, lay down a dare to the assembled people of Israel who have gathered on Mt. Carmel: “’How long will you straddle the issue? If the LORD is God, follow him; if Baal, follow him.’ The people, however, did not answer him.” They continue to dance around the issue and never can decide, we might say. Like a dancer or skater who just can’t quite settle on a move or position. Then Elijah proposes a strange suggestion about animal sacrifice and a test of rival divine powers, one true and the other false: the LORD or Baal.
“’Give us two young bulls . . . cut it into two pieces, and place it on the wood, but start no fire. I shall prepare the other and place it on the wood, but shall start no fire."
The people answered, ‘Agreed!’” (1 Kgs 18: 23-24). Elijah proposes a challenge to the prophets of Baal: “’you shall call on your gods, and I will call on the LORD. The God who answers with fire is God.’” Make up your mind on this issue and we’ll see what happens.
Well, you know the end of the story here. Nothing happens as the prophets of Baal, “called to Baal from morning to noon . . . and they hopped around the altar they had prepared . . .” The scene is near comical and Elijah makes the best of it. “’Call louder, for he is a god and may be meditating, or may have retired, or may be on a journey. Perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.’” (1 Kgs 18: 26-27). This is Biblical sarcasm at its best. “Hello?”
Of course, the LORD wins the day eventually when Elijah appeals to the God of “Abraham, Isaac, and Israel.” The Lord’s fire came down and consumed the burnt offering, wood, stones, and dust, and lapped up the water in the trench. You can hear the crowd cheer and, “Seeing this, all the people fell prostrate and said. ‘The LORD is God!’” (1 Kgs: 18: 39) Whew! It’s a great scene from the Old Testament. Read it in its entirety.
The point, however, is that it questions our approach to God in prayer. As Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount this week continues in our Gospel, this passage, a gathering on Mt. Carmel, challenges our patience, our willingness to stand up for our belief with confidence based in divine trust and our sometimes call to stop dancing around a point – we cannot live in two worlds at the same time. Elijah, who our Jewish brethren hold in such esteem as a forerunner of the Messiah, reminds us that we can’t “straddle” the issue about from where we draw our ultimate guide.
Choices are a part of everyone’s life, of course. Our life is a sea of endless decision making. Some very mundane about what to eat, what clothes to wear (basic black always works!), what time to leave for an appointment. But often, we find ourselves like the ancient Israelites – confronted with a host of life changing decisions: education, career or vocation, a spouse in marriage or seminary formation towards priesthood, where to live and raise a family, how to seek proper medical or legal advice, etc. Our head can often spin and in the most difficult of cases, we may be frozen, unable to decide, like the people to whom Elijah said, “How long will you straddle the issue?”
The great prophet of Israel did not solve the personal problems of the people. He gave them no enlightened advice and where to go and find answers or suggested they open the yellow pages of the phone book and call this person.
He offered them, and the pagan priests of the false god Baal, the ultimate source that will guide and direct us daily: the LORD. And for us it is that Lord, the incarnate God who came to dwell among us, Christ himself.
We seek the advice of counselors, spiritual directors, confessors all of whom represent the direction of our spiritual life. This is good. But spiritual direction or counseling for its own sake is empty without a healthy life based in daily prayer and a personal commitment to Our Lord. In our Catholic spiritual treasure we have devotion to our Saints who like us, were confronted with daily choices. Their “spiritual direction” and prayer on our behalf before God can be invaluable for us.
The great St. Ignatius of Loyola spoke of “consolation” and “desolation.” In one we find peace and comfort and in the other we find ourselves on the fence, disturbed and upset. As he wisely advised, we should never make major decisions about our life in times of desolation. Let them rest. Bring them to prayer and move in times of peace and calm. Our God is waiting for us. He's not meditating, sleeping, or on vacation, as the prophet Elijah humorously taunted the prophets of Baal. He isn't even deaf to our concerns - "Hello, God. Are you there?" He is very much there but sees what we cannot see - the entirety of our lives.
Be not afraid and move with the confidence of faith – even when I am not totally secure. Maybe God wants us to step out, after all things are considered, and place our trust in him. As one of our seminarians said to me once, “I see no reason to leave the seminary. So, unless I do, I’ll stay.” Wise man.
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