In today’s First Reading we read about the contest on Mount Carmel. Evil kings hated God’s prophets because they spoke against sin and idola- try and undermined their control over the people. With the wicked kings’ backing, many pagan prophets sprang up to counter the words of God’s prophets. But Elijah showed the people that speaking a prophecy was not enough. One needed the power of the living God to fulfill it. So, Elijah chal- lenged the people to take a stand, to follow whoever was the true God. Why did so many people waver between the two choices? Perhaps some were not sure. Many, however, knew that the Lord was God, but they enjoyed the sinful pleasures and other benefits that came with following Ahab in his idolatrous worship. It is important to take a stand for the Lord. If we just drift along with whatever is pleasant and easy, we will someday discover that we have been worshiping a false god ourselves. When we push the Lord out of our lives and choose sinful pleasures, we could lose sight of God’s love.

Prayer: Abba Father, give me the grace to identify my hidden sins and the power to overcome them. Amen.