On the feast of the Prophet Elijah
On the feast of the Prophet Elijah, or “Mar Elias” as he is known in Lebanon, I will not go into the details of his rich life. I would only like to draw attention to one important point: these saints whom God called from their mothers’ wombs do not intercede only while they are alive on earth, and nothing prevents them from appearing to people after their death.
At the Transfiguration, Elijah and Moses, the two great prophets of the Old Testament, appear beside the Lord and talk with him. If it were impossible for saints to appear to people after their death, how did it happen here that Elijah and Moses appeared, so that Peter saw them with his own eyes, even talking with Jesus?! And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah,” as if to say: a shrine, a church, a place of worship.
Jesus answered by telling them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
In other words: after the resurrection, tell and proclaim how Elijah and Moses appeared with me on the mountain. Those I love, who spent their lives for my sake, share the kingdom of heaven with me, and appear on earth for the good of souls.
After the resurrection, the three tents for Jesus, Elijah and Moses became thousands upon thousands of churches, monasteries, shrines and icons for all those who love Jesus and whom he has chosen to be channels of good for all people.
O Prophet Mar Elias, as you bowed down on the mountain and pleaded with the Lord to answer you before the false prophets, saying, “Answer me, O Lord, answer me,” and he answered, sent down fire and consumed your offering, I turn to you with a contrite heart: carry our prayers and pleas and plead once more before the Lord for us poor ones: “Answer us, O Lord, answer us.”
We love you, Mar Elias, because you are the model of the monk, the hermit and the lay person who prays, contemplates and defends the rights of God and his house, and of humanity on earth. Happy feast to all of us, and especially to those who bear his beloved name, Elias, and its variants.
Father Joseph Abi Aoun
