SOMETIMES   GOD   WHISPERS

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily  for this 12th Friday in Ordinary Time  is, “Sometimes God Whispers.”

TODAY'S FIRST READING: 1 kINGS 19: 9A, 11-16

I would like to reflect  on a few whispers that  I heard  coming out of today’s first reading.

Those who give directed retreats would certainly love  to ask people to pray today’s well known first reading: 1 Kings 19: 9-16. It could help bring some people to sense  where they are.

Elijah is on the run from Ahab. Elijah is hiding out in a cave  - inside – in the dark - in the mountains.  Then Elijah  hears God telling him to go outside – into the great outdoors. He hears the command:  “Stand on the mountain and the Lord will be passing by.”

And God is not in the storm, the heavy winds. We heard the powerful thunder from the heavens yesterday.  And God is not in the earthquake. And God is not in the fire.

But God is in the tiny whisper – and Elijah hides his face in his cloak – till  a voice says, “Elijah, why are you here?”  That’s the Elijah question!

Now that’s a retreat question.  Now that’s a lifetime question.

It can bring the person retreating from the rushes of life to many places.

It sounds like the beginning of the Gospel of John when Andrew meets Christ for the first time and Andrew asks Jesus a very similar question: the Andrew question: “Rabbi! Where do you live?”

It can bring us to come out of our inner mountain hiding places – out of our inner caves –  out of our inner  man caves.  Where do women hide?

Today’s first reading – also  brings me to Plato’s cave – found in the Republic. A good reflection could be to compare Elijah, Socrates, Christ.

Elijah leaves the cave and experiences what many experience: God in the storm, God in the earthquake, God in the fire, but it’s the whisper that is the prayer. It’s the whispers of God in prayer where we can hear God.  These other experiences of God don’t last compared to the soft  whispers of God.

Socrates and Plato – in the allegory of the cave tell us – that most people prefer to stay in the cave – in the dark – chained to their illusions – only seeing the power points of their shadows. They spend their lives – facing their walls – with their backs to their entrances – with their backs to the possible exits out  of the cave. They want to believe the shadows are reality. They don’t accept  the one man – who breaks his chains – leaves the cave - goes out into the light – discovers the real world – and then comes back to tell what he learned – but s rejected.

Christ is executed on the cross – challenging us  to not adulterate ourselves with our Jezebels – and the sins of our eyes and our hearts. [Cf today's gospel: Matthew  5:  27-32]

Socrates was asked to take the hemlock poison – as his sentence to death – for challenging the Greeks with the truth.

Elijah is called to stop running – in spite of his fears – and he hears the words, “Go, take the road back to the desert near Damascus and do what I want you to do.” Isn’t that what God whispers to every one of us!  Go!

CONCLUSION

It would be a good retreat to travel with Elijah. We’ll experience our escapes, our hiding places, our caves. We’ll taste and see  bread, fire, water, the altar, whispers and calls.

I think also – here in this retreat house – not on a mountain – with its caves – but with its seats facing the ocean.  

I look at the water and I think of Herman Melville’s Moby Dick and Captain Ahab and the whales we’re chasing as well as Hemingway and The Old Man and the Sea. 

I think of this big picture – as well as an Elijahesque  quote by Hemingway: “Try to learn to breathe deeply, really to taste food when you eat, and when you sleep, really to sleep. Try as much as possible to be wholly alive with all your might, and when you laugh, laugh like hell. And when you get angry, get good and angry. Try to be alive. You will be dead soon enough.” Have a good retreat.