1 Kings — Chapter 19

Elijah under the juniper tree: Lapide: \"Appropriately did Elijah rest under the shade of the juniper, for the berries of the juniper, burning like pepper, represent the ardour and zeal of Elijah — but this must be tempered by the shade of patience and humility; for the juniper, being small, gives a small and humble shade.\"

The Angel touches Elijah: \"Arise and eat\": Lapide: \"The Angels have singular care for hermits, such as Elijah was, since they have abandoned all things and are abandoned by all things. The food prepared by an Angel was therefore better and more nourishing than ordinary food.\" God sends His minister even to the despairing prophet — not with reproach, but with food and rest.

Elijah walks forty days on the strength of that food to Mount Horeb: Lapide: \"Note that Elijah fasted forty days, as Moses also did, and afterwards Christ — and in imitation of both, the Church instituted the fast of Lent.\" The bread of the Angel is a type of the Eucharist, by whose power through the forty days (= our whole life, a time of fast and penance) we walk toward the mountain of God.

And behold the Lord passeth, and a great and strong wind before the Lord... and after the wind an earthquake... and after the earthquake a fire... and after the fire a still small voice: Lapide: God shows Elijah that wind, earthquake, and fire — all instruments of divine power — are not the ordinary and proper mode of His providence. The still small voice (Hebrew: \"voice of thin air\") is the symbol of God's patience, clemency, and longaninity.

And after the fire a still small voice: Lapide: The lenis spiritus (gentle breath) is simultaneously subtle and sharp — God works \"strongly and sweetly.\" He wished to moderate Elijah's zeal of vengeance, not to destroy it — but to direct it so that it might proceed from gentleness and love of justice, not from anger and disturbance of soul. God teaches the apostolic man to be patient as well as zealous.

Elijah covers his face with his mantle and stands at the door of the cave: Lapide (S. Gregory II in Ezech.): \"He who stands at the door of the cave and hears the words of God speaking to him must veil his face — for the more we are raised by grace toward higher things to be understood, the more always we must press ourselves down through humility, lest we strive to know more than it is fitting to know.\"

And I will leave me seven thousand in Israel whose knees have not been bowed before Baal: Lapide: This consolation to Elijah — that he is not alone — becomes the text of Paul's argument in Romans xi about the remnant of Israel. There are always more faithful than the prophet in his desolation perceives. The zeal of the solitary prophet must be tempered by trust in God's hidden providential preservation of His remnant.

Elijah casts his mantle upon Elisha: Lapide: By this symbolic act Elijah transfers his spirit and prophetic office to Elisha — as a master clothes his disciple in his own authority and way of life. Elisha asks to bid farewell to his parents; Elijah's response is enigmatic but gracious. Elisha then burns his plough, feeds the people from the oxen, and follows Elijah without return.