Proper 4 Year C

Proper 4

1 Kings 18.20–21 [22–29] 30–39
Galatians 1.1–12
Luke 7.1–10

Elijah calls for fire, but the larger story is about rain. Drought has plagued the land. King Ahab is cross with Elijah, blaming the messenger for the message. Elijah, fresh from his triumph in restoring a boy to life (ch. 17), retorts (18.18) that the trouble stems from Ahab himself, who has fostered Baal-worship in Israel. Hence the contest on Carmel. Only when YHWH is acknowledged as the one true God, and Baal-worship is stamped out, will the rains return...