elijah's retirement - 19th sunday A benediction

Let us reflect now on our first reading.  The problem however with today's reading is that it only tells the middle part of the story and omitted the beginning and the end.  So let us supply them for the sake of knowing how Elijah, the great prophet after Moses himself, ended as a prophet of God. 

Elijah was hiding inside a cave on a mountain.  Then the word of the Lord came to him asking, Why are you here Elijah?  And Elijah answered, "I am moved by zeal for the LORD, the God of Hosts, for the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and put Your prophets to the sword. I alone am left, and they are out to take my life." Very well said, but what he really menas is ari ako diri sa kuweba kay nahadlok ako.

Then the word of the Lord called him, "Come out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD."  And this is now our reading today – Elijah came out at the entrance of the cave.  Then the Lord passed by - There was a great and mighty wind, splitting mountains and shattering rocks; but the LORD was not in the wind. then an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake. Then, fire; but the LORD was not in the fire. Then -- a soft murmuring sound.  Elijah covered himself and stood at the entrance of the cave. 

Then the ending of the story begins, and we do not find this in our reading today.  Again God asked him one more time, this time in person, Why are you here Elijah?  And Elijah's answer was exactly the same, "I am moved by zeal for the LORD."   Same reply but still very much afraid despite the fact that God visited him there in person. 

So God told Elijah, you will anoint this king for the kingdom of Aram, then anoint this king for the kingdom of Israel, then anoint Elisha to succeed you. Pak!! God very simply and in a matter of fact way announced his retirement plan for Elijah – then anoint Elisha to succeed you.

Elijah had it all, he was the greatest of all prophets after Moses.  He did many wonderful signs before God's people, even raising the dead.  But towards the end he became so afraid, he was so paralyzed by his fears he hid himself in a cave, and it seems he doesn't want to get out.  And so God had to let him go.

This is a lesson when you become priest – do not be afraid.  This morning I told the college why I went on regency just before ordination.  I was afraid.  But thank God I realized after a year in the cave, I realized why I should not be afraid.  Kon akon-akon lang ining pagkapari nga ini, then I should be afraid.  Pero kon iya ini sang Dios, kon iya ini luyag, indi gali ni akon, iya ini ni Lord, then why should I be afraid?  Afraid ka lang kon imo na, pero ti indi man ina imo.  Amo man na natabo sang bata pa ko nga pari, wala pa ako eksperyensia ginbutang na ako sa candle light, kag ang ginbuslan ko amo ang una sini nga bantug nga editor.  And right on my face there were mga taga jaro nga nagsiling, indi kami ya magbulig sa imo, sia lang to ya ang luyag namon buligan. May bes nga hibi ka man, may bes nga wala na kwarta pangayo-ngayo ka.  Hadluk ako.  Amo man na pag-rector ko, permi lang ko nagapangakig kay nahadlok ako.  Amo man na sang gin-assign naman ako sa Clergy.  Puro lang tanan hadlok, pang-alang-alang.  Ti nasarangan mo man?  Huo.  Ti nagpalpak ka?.  Ay kadamo e.  Ti are you down, are you discouraged, do you want to retire?  No, indi man ini akon, this is his call, I am just responding the best way I know how.

Today most of us priests in the archdiocese are afraid because of two things.  First the standardization of our salary which means nga bisan diin ka i-assign, gamay man nga parokya ukon daku, uma man ukon ciudad, seminaryo man ukon palacio pareho kami tanan sweldo – may gamay lang nga kinalain.  So may iban sa amon, kag damo ini sila, nga taas ang sweldo nga maganubo, may mga may manubo nga sweldo nga magataas.  May ara happy pero may apprehension bisan nga maganubo ang ila sweldo because they know that they will get less so that their brother priests can get a little bit more – they have to share.  But many are very much disturbed and some have even signed a petition to stop it.  Again, we are like Elijah hiding in our caves, afraid, and God has to call us get out and stand by the entrance so that we can see his presence and his power to take care of us.  Do not be afraid, God will take care of you.

Then the second thing most of us are afraid of is the reshuffling.  Ano ayhan ang tup-an ko, maayo ayhan, masaw-an ko ayhan?  Ako iya wala ko ya nahadlok kon ano ang tup-an ko, ang nahadlukan ko gid kon bala may tup-an ako.  Tani bisan diin lang.  But again I am afraid and again I have to remind myself that I should not be afraid, but instead I should always make myself available for God and respond in the best way I know how. We should not be afraid.  Jesus is with us.