Tagged: Bible Study

“Have you found me out, my enemy?” –1 Kings 21:20 May our enemies find us out, that is, find out that we genuinely love them in truth. May our enemies find us out, that is, find out that we are praying and fasting for them, and offering Masses and sacrifices for them. May our enemies find us out, finding that we have no hatred in our hearts for them, but only true love (Mt 5:44ff). May our enemies find us out, that is, find out that after we have suffered loss and pain as a result of their hatred, and...

“His fellow citizens – the elders and the nobles who dwelt in his city – did as Jezebel had ordered them.” –1 Kings 21:11 To get Naboth’s property, Jezebel, the queen of Samaria, ordered the elders and nobles of Naboth’s city to get two scoundrels to falsely accuse Naboth and then to stone him to death (1 Kgs 21:11ff). Many people obeyed Jezebel and thereby participated in Naboth being murdered. When Jesus was crucified, many people obeyed orders from Pontius Pilate and the religious leaders. Thus, they “did the dirty work” of putting God to death. Throughout history, masses of...

“And all the trees of the field shall know that I, the Lord, bring low the high tree, lift high the lowly tree, wither up the green tree, and make the withered tree bloom.” –Ezekiel 17:24 The Bible begins with the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gn 2:9). It ends with the trees of life on the banks of the river of life-giving waters in heaven (Rv 22:1-2). Ezekiel described the Messianic kingdom as a majestic cedar tree on a high mountain (Ez 17:22-23). In contrast, Jesus described His kingdom in a...

“Then [Elisha] left and followed Elijah as his attendant.” –1 Kings 19:21 The culmination of Elijah’s earth-shaking ministry was when he heard God whisper to him to anoint Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha (1 Kgs 19:15-16). Personally, Elijah anointed only Elisha. The other two anointings were done by Elisha, Elijah’s disciple, and by another disciple of Elisha. Elijah’s great mission was completed by discipleship (see 1 Kgs 19:21). When Jesus was hanging on the cross before His death, he commanded one of His disciples, representing all His disciples, to accept Mary as the mother of all His disciples (see Jn 19:27)....

“There was a tiny whispering sound.” –1 Kings 19:12 God communicates in myriad ways. On occasion, the Lord roars (Am 1:2; 3:8) and thunders (Ps 29:3, 7-9). However, a major characteristic of God’s communication with mankind is His whisperings and His silence. The Lord often whispers, as He did to the prophet Elijah. He is gentle (Mt 11:29). “He will not contend or cry out, nor will His voice be heard in the streets” (Mt 12:19). God is regularly found in silence. Often the Lord seemingly “hides,” for example, in the tabernacle or in the Eucharist. Therefore, we must “seek...