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.
