Today's reading from the First Book of Kings tells the dramatic story of the Prophet Elijah's confrontation with the prophets of Baal over whose god could ignite the altar of sacrifice. With all their hooting and dancing, there was no response from Baal, but when Elijah called on God after dowsing the altar with water, fire came and consumed everything, even the stones. The people reacted by shouting, "The Lord is God." (1 Kgs18:39) We probably would have done the same, for the "spectacular" evokes equally spectacular and enthusiastic responses.
But rarely does the spectacular occur as part of our every day life. Really? When Jesus, in today's gospel admonishes us to obey and teach the commandments, he is asking something so spectacular that it merits being called "greatest in the Kingdom of heaven." (Mt 5:10). Perhaps it's time we recognize this and act on it.
As Marists, we are called and dedicated to making Jesus known and loved, which is a way of covering all the commandments. Especially in today's increasingly secular and materialistic world, such a mission is spectacular and if done well, will cause our "students" to affirm with that same loud enthusiasm, "The Lord is God."
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