52. June 20 - Elijah (aka Elias)

The flying Bride and I landed in glorious Saint Peter's Square in Rome. In retrospect, I think She was trying to show off, or She brought me here to make Herself feel better after all of our talk about the conflicts within Her. I still could not see Her, but I was becoming more comfortable with Her invisible presence.

Once on the ground I felt Her nudge me into the Basilica, into which I willingly entered. What a magnificent place!

"Aren't I beautiful!" She chimed with glee.

"Of course you are. You are the grandest of all ladies on earth." I replied in an attempt to gain favor.

"And the oldest and wisest too." She added with a smile in her voice.

I want to introduce you to one of my forefathers, the prophet Elijah.

Since I had only the building to look at while addressing the Bride, I gazed at a huge statue of Saint Helen holding the cross she found.

The Bride said proudly, "Our God prepared for My Birth before the world was created. From His first words to Adam and later to Abraham He contemplated My universality. The prophets foreshadowed My Bridegroom, Jesus Christ. My existence actually goes back to the beginning of time."

It sounded to me that She placed a special emphasis on the word 'time' to remind me of my angst. I suppose I will forever be known as The Angel who Hates Time and was exiled to learn to appreciate it. The concept that the Bride of Christ was in the mind of God from the moment He created time was certainly a fascinating thought to me. He never mentioned that to us angels. But of course He didn't inform us of much.

After that brief foray into my own mind, I snapped back to the conversation and said, "Tell me more about Elijah; what is a prophet?"

She replied, "Without the benefit of knowing Jesus Christ, while death still ruled the world and Hades was the destination of all humankind, Elijah and other prophets heard the voice of God, yielded to His Holy Spirit and could overcome nature even as they overcame hundreds of fiery darts of the evil one. From Abraham-Isaac-and Jacob, and from David to Joseph-Mary-and Jesus, the unity of the people of the one true God, forms Me.

My blemishes and imperfections are minor when compared to the glory I bring to My Lord and King, Yahweh. Sins will all dissolve in the Last Judgment when princes and paupers will be sent to their ultimate destinations in either heaven or hell. Just as the memory of an illness, no matter how grave, fades away, so too will these conflicts dissolve on the day when My Oneness, my Holiness and my Universality shine like the sun. It is in and for that Judgment Day that I live. Well, and for My a Wedding Day too of course!

Now sweet angel, stop it with the criticism and let me take you to meet My forefather, Elijah."

"Let's go." I replied.

Suddenly I was whisked away from Saint Helen's statue to an equally grand statue of the Prophet Elijah.

The voice of the Bride said, "Today I celebrate the amazing life of Elijah. His faith and discipline were so strong that he stood up to evil king Ahab and his hateful wife Jezebel. His accomplishments are many. Just like My Bridegroom multiplied bread and fish, Elijah multiplied olive oil, and raised a young child from the dead. Elijah foreshadowed for God's chosen people the power of My Christ. In fact, his body never succumbed to death at all. He was simply whisked away in a chariot up to heaven!

"Impressive. So where is the party?" I asked. "Why are you showing me a statue? Why don't you take me to meet Elijah, so we can celebrate him as we celebrated Gabriel. Let's go!"

"Good try angel; but you know that you can't go to heaven yet. Today, I am holding a quiet celebration of remembrance for those you have eyes to see and hearts to care.

I want you to meet my forefathers in this the grandest of my homes on earth. In this Basilica of Saint Peter, (who you once called a louse) I want you to see how small individuals are alone, with all of their sins and complaints and criticisms, with their weakness and frailty but when they unite in Christlikeness to form me we become grand and beautiful and majestic, exactly like this building of Me."

In a much more serious, kindly but firm tone, She added, "You have recently been overly sarcastic and perhaps a little depressed. I imagine that this has been a long difficult year for you, so I wanted to show you the majestic aspect of my nature. Perhaps now you will show me a little more respect!"

"You will meet Elijah soon, but for now, let's take a moment to honor him in prayer."

With that I felt the tug drag me to the altar; as I looked back at the Statue of Elijah, I could swear that he winked at me!"