Today’s Readings – Wednesday of Week 10 of Ordinary Time - First Reading

Commentary on 1 Kings 18:20-39

Today we have the dramatic challenge that Elijah made to the worshippers of Baal and to his own idolatrous fellow-Israelites. It will give clinching proof of who the true God is and this will finally be confirmed by the ending of the drought (tomorrow’s Ordinary Time First Reading—1 Kings 18:41-46).

The scene is on Mount Carmel, a mountain in northern Palestine near the Mediterranean coast. King Ahab, in conformity with a request from Elijah, has ordered all the Israelites to gather there together with the 450 prophets of Baal.

Elijah throws down the challenge to his people by asking them how much longer they are going to continue hopping from one leg to the other, alternating between their worship of God and of Baal and of trying to have the … Continue

Yesterday’s Readings – Saint Colmcille (Columba), Abbot

Colmcille (also Columcille or Colum Cille) was born on 7 December, 521, near Lough Gartan in County Donegal, in the northwest of Ireland. On his father’s side he was a great-great-grandson of Niall of the Nine Hostages, a high king of Ireland in the 5th century. His original name was Cri … Continue