St Elias, Pray to God for …

For many Christians today marks the Feast of St Elias the Tishbite. In fact, especially in light of the war in the Middle East, honourable memory of the Prophet Elias (or Elijah) is also kept by Jews, Muslims, and Druze.

Through the prayers of the Holy Prophet Elias, may God have mercy and save us!

Here are some excerpts from today’s edition of DYNAMIS on St Elias …

While St. James commends all the Prophets as models of patience in suffering, naming Job in particular (Jas. 5:10-11), he recognized Elijah as one who “endured” bitter conflicts with great patience. The Lord even bestowed upon the Prophet a glorious departure (vs. 11), coming in a whirlwind and chariot of fire to take him into heaven without tasting death (2 Kngs 2:11-12).

Twice in his lifetime, the Prophet Elijah spoke the truth of God to King Ahab concerning his open promotion of idolatry. As a result, he was forced to flee into the wilderness where, as a hunted man, he suffered great privation (3 Kngs 16:29-17:3 and 3 Kngs 18:16-19:4 LXX).

In the face of the increasing moral corruption and idolatrous materialism of the contemporary western world, numbers of Christians, after the manner of Elijah, are suffering shame and rejection for speaking the truth concerning the appalling state of the world and society. St. Gregory of Sinai points out that “the envy which the innocent provoke is for their benefit, while the Lord’s schooling tests us so as to bring about our conversion, since it opens our ears when we are guilty.”

Therefore, St. Gregory adds this encouragement: “That is why the Lord has promised an eternal crown to those who endure in this manner.”

St. James exhorts the Faithful to speak plainly and directly, not swearing “either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No,’ lest you fall into judgment” (Jas. 5:12). Further, he exhorts the Faithful to confess their “trespasses to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed” (vs. 16).

Elijah was just such a man of direct communication. When Queen Jezebel and King Ahab conspired to appropriate the vineyard of their neighbor Naboth, the Prophet did not spare the King’s feelings, but plainly told him all the consequences the Lord would bring upon him: the end of his dynasty and the violent end of his entire family (1 Kngs 21:20-29). We, too, must not hold back in telling the plain truth, nor in searching out our own faults and sins before the Lord.

The Apostle also commends diligent prayer, reminding us that “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (Jas. 5:16). At this point in his Epistle, St. James actually employs the example of Elijah as one who “prayed earnestly” (Jas. 5:17,18).

Prayer surely was the source of Elijah’s honesty, patience, strength, and faith during his trials and sufferings. He did not hesitate to submit his woes and his dependency to God quite candidly. His prayer when he challenged the priests of Baal is a classic examples of trust (1 Kngs 18:30-38). His prayer for rain reveals great persistence (1 Kngs 18:41-46). His prayer in the wilderness exhibits his self-surrender to the will of God (1 Kngs 19:4). His prayer on Mt. Horeb reveals absolute obedience (1 Kngs 19:11-19). May God establish us in such a prayer life! Archimandrite Ioannikios Kotsonis presses this truth upon us: “You cannot be called a Christian, if you do not pray often. All the saints prayed continually and with ardor. Therefore, become a practitioner of unceasing prayer. It will give enlightenment to your mind.”

O Prophet Elijah, who foresaw the great acts of God, who with a word didst stop the flow of rain, intercede thou for our sake with Him Who alone is the Lover of mankind.

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