Blazing Fire (Elijah/Therese)

A poetical comparison between the Old Testament prophet and the canonised nineteenth century nun.

Elijah

Idolatry, unholy breach
Of the commandments of Yahweh
A drought, a famine in the land
Nation of Israel led astray.

Baal and Asherah took the place
Of Yahweh God in human hearts
True worship exchanged for a lie
Parched is the land as life departs.

Elijah, prophet of Yahweh
To Ahab, king, did prophesy
Showers of rain, but yet a great
Inferno would rage from the sky.

A challenge set on Carmel’s mount
An altar, vessel for the fight
Burnt offerings placed for the true God
To consume with both fire and might.

The prophets of Baal cried aloud
In vain they cried, but nothing fell
Elijah now invoked Yahweh
To send down fire impregnable.

The flames of Yahweh, from the heights
Of Heaven, burned the sacrifice
The water in the trench licked up
Evaporated in a trice.

The cries to Baal were seen as nought
Its servants scattered and cut down
And slaughtered at Wadi Kishon
All hail, Yahweh, who wears the crown.

Thérèse

From Carmel’s heights in Israel
To a Carmel in Normandy
A peaceful convent in whose walls
Echoes a holy sanctity.

Sister St. Thérèse of Lisieux
In autobiographical
Writing, spoke of her confidence
And love of Christ, her all in all.

Perpetual confidence in him
Enfolded in Love’s pure embrace
His mercy and His love resound
As instruments of perfect grace.

Into the blazing fire of love
Falls this pure heroine of faith
For her, the weight of every crime
Compared with Love, are nothing worth.

The blazing fire of perfect love
The all-consuming holy flame
Forgives and cleanses human souls
Absolves them from all fault and blame.

Duet

Elijah, prophet of Yahweh
By your holy obedience
False gods and prophets were struck down
You shine in holy radiance.

Thérèse, great Doctor of the Church
Your Little Way ignites the fire
Of God’s pure love for humankind
May all souls to that love aspire.