
Elijah the Prophet
Two great figures in the Bible have inspired Carmelites through their 800-year history. Elijah, the fiery prophet of Carmel, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, have helped the community see how to be contemplative and active; prayerful and prophetic; reflective and apostolic. Elijah and Mary are human models. Just as many of us wonder about the best way to live our lives, they felt paralyzing fear, faced difficult questions, and were hurt deeply because of choices they made.
In the Old Testament, Elijah is a solitary figure found on Mount Carmel, where the Carmelite hermits first settled, Elijah is best known by his challenge to choose one God for Israel -- Yahweh or Baal.
According to the First Book of Kings, chapter 18, Elijah's sacrifice was consumed by fire, which proved to the people that Yahweh was the true God. Undertaking God's work, Elijah started a journey through the desert, but he lost his focus and commitment to the project. Sitting under a bush, he wished to die. But God prodded him to continue his journey to Mount Horeb. There Elijah became aware of God -- not with the usual eye-catching signs of fire and earthquake, but rather as a gentle breeze. Elijah was sent back to his people refreshed.
From Elijah, Carmelites learn to become aware of the presence of God in the unexpected and to be silent enough to hear God's whisper. "God lives in whose presence I stand", says Elijah, and the Carmelites try to follow. (taken from www.carmelites.net)

