CHARIOTS OF FIRE

PRAYER MOMENT 

Saturday 13 December 2014, St Lucy

CHARIOTS OF FIRE

             

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “Elijah, taken up in the whirlwind of fire, in a chariot of fiery horses … to turn the hearts of fathers towards their children and to restore the tribes of Jacob.” (Sir:48:1…11)

Reflection. John the Baptist looms over Advent: his fiery language was intended to announce the time of judgement had come. He was the new Elijah. Though he did not do the signs of Elijah, shutting up the heavens so that there was a drought and bringing down fire and even raising the dead, he was in the same tradition of fierce judgement of Israel. This theme of rousing words and dramatic signs is associated with ‘pentacostalist’ prophets down to our time. But there is another tradition which emphasises that conversion is not necessarily going to happen because of external words and signs but is more an inner response and process that is more lasting. Jesus used this way and we can see it as a fulfilment of Elijah’s approach and that of John.

Prayer. Lord, teach us during this Advent time to respond deeply to your coming and rejoice in your working in our hearts and those of others each day. Amen.  

David Harold-Barry SJ