Born a century after the reign of David in the northern Kingdom of Israel, Elijah is first mentioned in the Book of Kings when he brings the Word of The Lord to Ahab, informing him that The Lord is not happy with his worship of false Gods. 

As punishment for worshiping idols, there was a severe famine throughout the Kingdom of Israel, but Elijah was blamed for the famine and forced to go into hiding. 

At one point, he found shelter with a woman who had a young child. When the child died, Elijah called upon The Lord to bring that child back to life and, because she was generous in sharing with him the tiny amount of oil and flour she had, The Lord, through Elijah, made sure the woman’s supply never again ran out. 

Then The Lord sent Elijah back to Ahab to tell him that there should be a showdown between the 450 prophets of the god they had been worshiping and The Lord. So, all day long the prophets of Baal called for fire to be sent down to consume a sacrifice that had been prepared but nothing happened. 

Then, finally, Elijah called upon The Lord, saying: 

“Answer me, Lord, Answer me that these people will know that You are the Lord, our God.” 

Then, as thousands watched, The Lord responded by sending fire down from heaven to consume the sacrifice. 

After this, all of Baal’s prophets were killed. 

Elijah goes on to survive the persecution of Ahab and his wife, Jezebel, who ends up dying in humiliation. 

Elijah starts a new guild of prophets from The Lord and, at the end of his life, is taken up into heaven when a chariot of fire appears and takes him into heaven in a whirlwind. 

St. Elijah, please pray for us.