Three Times He Brought Down Fire

December 14, 2019

From today’s reading…

…like a fire there appeared the prophet Elijah

whose words were as a flaming furnace.

…By the Lord’s word he shut up the heavens

and three times brought down fire.”

In Sirach 48 today we see how powerful Elijah was. Not only did God take him up to heaven in a chariot of fire drawn by horses of fire in 2 Kings 2, now we see him sent back to reinforce God’s message.

Elijah is given such power that he is able to “shut up the heavens,” and Jesus recalls his importance today in Matthew 17.

Like Elijah, Jesus was not recognized by all who heard Him. Neither their powerful words nor their exemplary lives were enough to turn all to the Lord. In fact, just the opposite happened, which is why fire must be brought down not once, not twice, but three times.

And it will come again for you and for me if we choose to ignore their messages and examples and fail to…

Stay the course.Keep the faith.Endure.