(Please read this Scripture passage first, before the homily.)
“What are you doing here? I told you to stand on the mountain before me, and you have taken shelter in the cave and crawled on the ground!” This is God speaking to his prophet. It seems that this tiny whisper of a sound that announced God’s present could speak rather boldly to Elijah.
Elijah said he had some complaints. Nobody believes in God; Elijah is all alone. The people want to kill Elijah. The people have torn down God’s altar.
God replied to Elijah, “Nonsense! Go back home the way you came. Anoint Hazael as king in Damascus, Jehu to replace the king of Israel and Elisha to replace you as prophet.” These three shall be like the tornado, the earthquake and the fire for the people of Israel. Besides this, I still have seven thousand people in Israel who believe in me. What more do you want?”
Have I or you ever felt alone? Have I or you ever thought that the world was against me/you? Have I or you ever felt that nobody cared about God and the messages God gives?
God has a final word for Elijah. He tells him to go back home and these fulfill the assignment the Lord has given him.
For Elijah it was a revelation that God can remain calm in the midst of storm and upheaval. God calls us out of our storms into God’s whispering silence. From there, God sends us back home to fulfill the assignments given us.