Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/325

 The relics  of  Saints. The  cloak  which  Elias  left  behind  him  when he was  translated  was  a relic  of  the  holy  prophet. By means  of  this relic and  for  the  sake  of  the  prayers  and  merits  of  Elias  God  worked great miracles. By means  of  the  relics  (i.  e.  the  bones)  of  Eliseus also a great  miracle  was  wrought. If therefore  God  glorifies  the  relics of his  Saints  by  working  miracles  through  them,  it  is  certainly  reasonable and pleasing  to  God  that  we  should  value  and  honour  them;  and  the Church teaches  that  we  ought  to  venerate  them. She places  them under the  altars  on  which  the  holy  Sacrifice  of  the  Mass  is  offered,  and exposes them  for  our  veneration.

A type of  Holy  Communion. The  wonderful  food  brought  to  Elias by an  angel  was  an  evident  type  of  Holy  Communion. We have  before us a long  and  dangerous  journey  through  the  desert  of  this  life,  before we can  reach  heaven. During this  pilgrimage  God  strengthens  us  by the  most  holy  Sacrament,  the  bread  of  angels,  in  the  power  of  which we may  rise  from  virtue  to  virtue  and  finally  scale  the  holy  Mount  of God,  heaven.

At our  Lord’s  Transfiguration  on  Mount  Tabor  Moses  and  Elias, on account  of  their  high  place  in  the  kingdom  of  God,  were  allowed to speak  with  the  Saviour  of  the  world,  the  former  as  the  representative and founder  of  the  Law,  the  latter  as  the  representative  of  the  prophets (New Test.  XXXVII).

God's Justice  was  manifested  in  the  punishment  of  the  impious children of  Bethel  and  the  chastisement  of  the  covetous  servant  Giezi.

God's Mercy  sent  the  erring  and  deceived  Israelites  another  prophet (Eliseus) in  the  place  of  Elias,  and  gave  him  the  power  of  working mighty miracles,  in  order  to  induce  the  people  to  do  penance  and escape the  coming  judgment. How wonderfully  did  God’s  mercy  reveal itself in  the  case  of  the  pagan  Naaman! According to  human  ideas the carrying  off  by  robbers  of  the  Israelite  maiden  was  an  unlucky accident, but  by  divine  Providence  it  became  the  means  by  which  the chiefs of  the  Syrians  were  made  acquainted  with  the  miracles  which Eliseus worked  in  God’s  name. It was  also  the  cause  of  the  conversion of Naaman  to  the  true  faith. God ordained  that  this  little  maid  should be taken  into  the  service  of  Naaman’s  wife,  should  relate  the  wonderful things done  by  Eliseus,  and  should  awaken  in  Naaman’s  breast  the  hope that the  prophet  might  heal  him  of  his  terrible  disease.

The object  of  miracles.  Leprosy  could  indeed  be  cured,  except  in such  aggravated  cases  as  those  of  Job  and  Giezi,  but  the  cure  was  a very  slow  one. Naaman’s sudden  recovery  was  therefore  clearly  a miracle,  for  it  was  not  the  water  of  the  Jordan  which  cured  him,  but the almighty  power  of  God. God performed  this  miracle  on  the  distinguished Gentile  in  order  that  he  might  be  converted,  and  that  the name of  God  should  be  glorified  even  among  the  heathen. Naaman was healed  in  soul  as  well  as  in  body.