God or Ba'al?

Do you choose God or Ba’al? 

The prophet Elijah is the spiritual founder of the Carmelites. (Some consider him to be the actual founder). 

 

How can Elijah teach us about the power of the Brown Scapular? 

 

What does a prophet who lived 900 years before Christ have to do with this devotion? 

 

How long do you halt?

 

You may know about Elijah, but here’s a brief recap of one of his most famous stories.

 

Elijah was the prophet of the Lord during the reign of the wicked king Ahab. At the time the people of Israel had given into idol worship and followed the priests of Ba’al and other false gods. Because of this God struck Israel with a terrible drought. 

 

Elijah challenged the priests of Ba’al to a contest. They would make a sacrifice to Ba’al and Elijah would offer a sacrifice to the Lord. Whichever sacrifice was consumed by fire from heaven would prove who was truly God. 

 

Before the sacrifice, Elijah accused the Israelites, saying, “how long do you halt between two sides? If the Lord be God, follow him; but if Ba’al, then follow him.” 

 

Elijah gave the Israelites a choice - choose God or don’t. There is no in-between. 

 

“I have set before you today life and goodness” 

 

You and I are faced with the same choice. Choose God or…some other idol. 

 

We either live for God or for something else (ourselves, money, material goods, etc.) 

 

This doesn’t mean that the life of faith can’t have its ups and downs or its struggles. But God asks us to choose him. To be on fire for him. To live for God. In the spiritual life, you are either going forward or backward. 

 

There is no standing still. 

 

Christ tells us this: “but because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will begin to vomit thee out of my mouth.” 

 

After Elijah’s sacrifice, he drenches the altar in water, and when the fire comes from heaven to consume his offering, we know that it can only come from God alone. Elijah then condemns the prophets of Ba’al and tells the king to eat and drink while he waits for rain. 

 

Then, after sending his servant seven times to look out over the sea, a cloud rises out of the Mediterranean. The cloud comes over the land and pours God’s mercy over all of Israel in the form of a downpour that ends the three-year drought. 

 

Elijah challenged the people to make a choice. Then he took a stand in his choice. His faith in God was so strong that he challenged the priests of Ba’al to see whose God will truly act. And he relied on God alone, pouring water all over his altar so that no human act could set it aflame.. 

 

Only God alone. 

 

Elijah chose God. He took action. He relied on God. 

 

And then what happened? 

 

God takes action. 

 

God rewards Elijah’s strong faith. He saves him. Not only that, God responds to Elijah’s faith and brings mercy to all of Israel, even the sinners who had turned from him.  

 

A sign of devotion

 

What is the scapular? 

 

It’s not a magical garment. It’s not a superstition. 

 

It’s a choice. It’s a commitment to God. 

 

By wearing the Brown Scapular you dedicate yourself to Christ through Mary. 

 

By wearing the Brown Scapular you are saying, “I choose God. I dedicate myself to Mary.” 

 

“Life may have its ups and downs. It may have its struggles. But I am dedicated to Christ through Mary. And I trust that she will see me through.” 

 

And just as God honored Elijah’s choice, his bold action for God, so will God honor our commitment through the Brown Scapular. God will save those committed to Him. 

 

The Brown Scapular represents your commitment to follow God and His promise to save those who follow Him.