James 5:17-18 (cf. 1 King 17:1)
"Elijah was the same kind of person as we are. He prayed earnestly that there would be no rain, and no rain fell on the land for three and a half years. Once again he prayed, and the sky poured out its rain and the earth produced its crops."
Each time l read this passage of the Bible, or l heard someone quoting it, without thinking, I laughed! Is Elijah truly "the same kind of person as we are"? Or rather, are we the same kind of person as Elijah was? Let's be honest with ourselves. In truth, if you asked me, I don't think we are! And Elijah wasn't the kind of people we are! We might need to be honest with the kind of species of human beings our generation is. But most certainly not the species of human being as prophet Elijah? If we claim we are, then, let's show our works. Let's compare them with what Elijah did! John the Baptist was thought to be 'another Elijah,' because of what people saw him doing. If I may ask you, do you think others see you as 'another Elijah'? Or are you the one saying, "I am another Elijah"? Let's forget about what others say. Do you really see yourself as ‘another Elijah’? If Elijah was the same as we are, why are we not doing what Elijah did? If we are the same as Elijah, why are there no many 'Elijahs' today?
We are aware of those who say they are ‘Elijahs’ of our time! Some claim to be 3rd Elijah. Others claim they are 4th Elijah!’ But, are they really? By their fruit, you shall know them, and know who they really are. Even Elijah himself knew that he was just one of a kind! Then Elijah said, “I am the only prophet of the Lord still left, but there are 450 prophets of Baal” (1 Kings 18:22).
The Lord asked him, “Elijah, what are you doing here?” (1 Kings 19:9,13).
Elijah answered, “Lord God Almighty, I have always served you — you alone. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed all your prophets. I am the only one left — and they are trying to kill me!” (1 Kings 19:10,14).
"I am the only one left." So there are no two Elijahs!
Yet God said “I will leave 7,000 people alive in Israel — all those who are loyal to me and have not bowed to Baal or kissed his idol” (1 Kings 19:18). What a pleasant surprise!
Elijah believed God. He had no reason to doubt him. God will preserve seven thousand people...who are loyal. These seven thousand, were they also prophets? Did they include those hidden in caves, because they were afraid of a wicked king and his wife? What was their utility value for being silent when God needed them to speak up for him? The answer lies in who takes after Elijah, his successor. It was not those multitude of unknown prophets who made jest of Elisha, but Elisha himself!
If Elijah had wanted to stretch the point further, he would have said to God, "Wait a minute! Did you say, seven thousand people are out there? Where are they?" Where are the prophets of our time? Are they also among those prophets Obadiah, the holy man, hid in the caves (1 Kings 18:4)? It is time they came out! Of what use is a hidden and unknown prophet? Prophets are unique gift to the Church. Prophets are the mouthpiece of God and his Church. Where there are no prophets, not because God has not sent one, but because those He sent could not be found, then the Church is in trouble! At baptism, we are told, we have acquired three offices of Jesus Christ, “priest, prophet, and king.” How are we discharging this 3-in-1 office? The Church is given for the salvation and redemption of the world. The Church does not flow with the world. The world rather should flow with the Church. Is that what we see happening today? The Church of today is becoming more worldly than the world; where almost everyone is more interested in self than others.
And what is the Church, by the way?
We are back to ground zero! The Church is you and me. The Church is the Body of Christ Jesus. We are members of that Body of Christ. St. Teresa of Avila, Doctor of the Church, puts it beautifully and poetically this way,
"Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which He looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which He blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are His body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours."
• Watch out for the concluding part of this exposition.
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