Rome, June 12, 2014 (Zenit.org) Fr. Jason Mitchell LC

1 Kings 19:9a, 11-16
Psalm 27:7-8a, 8b-9abc, 13-14
Matthew 5:27-32

The episode with Elijah is an eloquent testimony to the reality of our encounter with God in prayer. In a certain sense, Elijah represents a culminating moment in the prayer of the Old Testament: the wind, the earthquake, the fire, and God passing by, all recall other episodes of prayerful encounter between God and his people.

The story of Adam and Eve in the garden before the fall suggests a close relationship between God and his children. The garden was the habitual place of encounter between God and man. After the fall, we are told that God was walking in the garden in the cool (ruah – wind, breath, spirit) of the day (Genesis 3:8). After the fall, man’s relationship with God continues: in the offering of the first-born of Abel’s flock; in the invocation of the divine name at the time of Enosh (Genesis 4:26); in Enoch’s and Noah’s walking with God (Genesis 5:24; 6:9); and in Noah’s offering that was pleasing to God (Genesis 8:20-21) (CCC, 2569). God walks with man, he is present to man, and desires that we enter into prayerful communion with him. [Read more at http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/daily-homily-the-lord-will-be-passing-by ]