In the first reading from the Book of Ecclesiasticus we have what scholars believe to be a eulogy or a hymn to the prophet Elijah, praising his mighty deeds and achievements. The language is rich and vivid, with many metaphors and allusions to biblical stories.
The poem highlights Elijah's extraordinary abilities and accomplishments, such as bringing famine and destruction upon the people, shutting up the heavens, and raising the dead, but always as a byproduct of the power of God, the ultimate source of all the magnificent power he deigned to wield through his prophet.
It also emphasizes his role as a mediator between God and humanity, anointing kings and prophets, and turning the hearts of fathers towards their children. We see this kind of mediation also in the likes of Moses and Abraham, and of course, the one true Mediator between God and Man, our Lord Jesus, himself God Almighty from all eternity.
The poem is meant to highlight Elijah's relationship with God and the verse "designated in the prophecies of doom to allay God's wrath before the fury breaks" suggests that Elijah played a crucial role in forestalling God's judgment, by interceding on behalf of the people which is why he is such a powerful type or foreshadowing of Jesus himself. The ultimate intercession on behalf of humanity comes from the Son of God, who was nailed to the Cross as the ultimate end of a horrific passion which he endured out of great love for us.
The poem concludes by praising Elijah's successor, Elisha, who was filled with Elijah's spirit and continued his work. The final lines emphasize the enduring legacy of Elijah, whose works were not only remarkable in his lifetime but also continued to be marvelous even after his death, again, a perfect precursor to the Lord who would rise from death and work marvels within the Church by sending the Holy Spirit.
Elijah’s role as a prophet, priest, and mediator was a highly esteemed gift in the eyes of his people, but it has it’s ultimate source in Jesus, the King and Lord of Time and the Universe.
In the gospel, our Lord reveals to his disciples how it is they are to pray, and in that prayer we have a connection with the first reading as well.
The phrase "Our Father" is echoed in the poem from Ecclesiasticus where God is described as, "the Most High" and "the Lord" (Hebrew: יְהוָה, YHWH). The poem addresses God as a paternal figure, emphasizing the idea of God as a loving and merciful Father.
The poem's focus on Elijah's mighty deeds and miracles can be seen as an allusion to the petitions in the Lord's Prayer, such as "Hallowed be thy name" and "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done." Elijah's actions are seen as a demonstration of God's power and glory, which is reflected in the petition for God's kingdom to come. We saw that some of those actions meant rebuking the unholy actions of Kings and Queens, and when our Lord prays that Our Father’s name be hallowed, it is because the world does so much to blaspheme against it. How ungrateful children can sometimes be, with a sense of entitlement and should they not get what they want, they pout and fret and make a scene, and forget all the former goodness the mother or father had shown it from the beginning. So too with adults and their appreciation of God’s gifts.
The line "to turn the hearts of fathers towards their children" is reminiscent of the phrase "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us" in the Lord's Prayer. This line can be seen as an allusion to the idea of familial forgiveness and reconciliation, which is central to both Jewish and Christian traditions but which for the latter extends to all men and women, notwithstanding whether or not they are immediate family members.
Finally, the obviously most important theme of our Gospel reading is prayer itself in the light of our relationship with God as “Father”.
The Lord's Prayer, also known as the Our Father, is a beautiful and iconic prayer that has been prayed by Christians for centuries. Some of its beautiful characteristics include: it’s usage of simple, everyday language that is easy to understand, making it accessible to people of all ages and cultures, and is not only an essential part of the gospels, but its elements are drawn from other parts of Sacred Scripture. Jesus was very scriptural, which is kind of an understatement, given he is in fact the Word himself, who became flesh as Saint John beautifully writes at the beginning of his gospel.
The Lord's Prayer therefore, serves as a model for how to pray, teaching us to address God as our Father, to acknowledge His sovereignty and goodness, and to express our dependence on Him. How beautiful are prayers like; “Without you, I have nothing, and I am nothing” and “Lord, help me, be my strength in this moment of trial”? Prayers like this echo the powerful and heartfelt words the Lord’s prayer. And of course, Jesus was basically revealed how he himself, in his human nature also prayed. For example in the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass me by. But not my will, but yours be done.” How beautifully authentic was our Lord in his teaching. Never a hint of hypocrisy. Never a preaching something he could not live himself. This is such a huge reminder to us who preach. Given this site focuses on preaching and is also meant to give other preachers some food for thought, once again, it is important that we pray for our priests so that we “do as they say” but also imitate what we see them living.
As it comes from Him who is Absolute Beauty itself, The Lord's Prayer has a poetic beauty to its language and structure which transcends anything else one may utter to God, making it a joy to pray and recite. But, it needs to come from our heart. We have to be careful that though we do not babble long strings of words so as to be heard by God, we don’t fall into a monotonous babbling of the Lord’s Prayer itself. When we pray our rosaries, there is always room to improve, our focus, our passion, our imagination, our meditation, our reverence… there is always room for growth.
May the good Lord, bless you therefore, with his sustenance and his grace, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother, and in the power of the Holy Spirit to the glory of God the Father, forever blessed, forever praised. Amen.
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