Catholic Commentary on Sirach 48

"Then Elijah arose, a prophet like fire, and his word burned like a torch." (Sirach 48:1)

Elijah and Elisha

Then Elijah arose, a prophet like fire, and his word burned like a torch. He brought a famine upon them, and by his zeal he made them few in number. By the word of the Lord he shut up the heavens, and also three times brought down fire. How glorious you were, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds! Whose glory is equal to yours? You raised a corpse from death and from Hades, by the word of the Most High. You sent kings down to destruction, and famous men, from their sick beds. You heard rebuke at Sinai and judgments of vengeance at Horeb. You anointed kings to inflict retribution, and prophets to succeed you. Then Elisha the successor is praised: who was ever as fearless as he? No one could intimidate him. Nothing was too hard for him, and when he was dead, his body prophesied.

The Catechism identifies Elijah as the forerunner figure who appears at the Transfiguration alongside Moses, representing the fullness of the prophetic tradition that points toward Christ (CCC 719).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, Elijah arose like fire, his word burned like a torch, and then he fled in depression to Horeb and asked to die. The same prophet. The greatest prophet is not immune to desolation. The word that burned like a torch was spoken by a man who, in the next chapter, sat under a broom tree and wanted to die. Let both be true. It is enough.

Prayer

Lord God, Elijah was a prophet like fire. Raise up prophets whose words burn like torches and who find the angel's bread waiting when they collapse. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

48
1 And Elias the prophet stood up, as a fire, and his word burnt like a torch. 2 He brought a famine upon them, and they that provoked him in their envy, were reduced to a small number, for they could not endure the commandments of the Lord. 3 By the word of the Lord he shut up the heaven, and he brought down fire from heaven thrice. 4 Thus was Elias magnified in his wondrous works. And who can glory like to thee? 5 Who raisedst up a dead man from below, from the lot of death, by the word of the Lord God. 6 Who broughtest down kings to destruction, and brokest easily their power in pieces, and the glorious from their bed. 7 Who heardest judgment in Sina, and in Horeb the judgments of vengeance. 8 Who anointedst kings to penance, and madest prophets successors after thee. 9 Who wast taken up in a whirlwind of fire, in a chariot of fiery horses. 10 Who art registered in the judgments of times to appease the wrath of the Lord, to reconcile the heart of the father to the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob. 11 Blessed are they that saw thee, and were honoured with thy friendship. 12 For we live only in our life, but after death our name shall not be such. 13 Elias was indeed covered with the whirlwind, and his spirit was filled up in Eliseus: in his days he feared not the prince, and no man was more powerful than he. 14 No word could overcome him, and after death his body prophesied. 15 In his life he did great wonders, and is death he wrought miracles. 16 For all this the people repented not, neither did they depart from their sins till they were cast out of their land, and were scattered through all the earth. 17 And there was left but a small people, and a prince in the house of David. 18 Some of these did that which pleased God: but others committed many sins. 19 Ezechias fortified his city, and brought in water into the midst thereof, and he digged a rock with iron, and made a well for water. 20 In his days Sennacherib came up, and sent Rabsaces, and lifted up his hand against them, and he stretched out his hand against Sion, and became proud through his power. 21 Then their hearts and hands trembled, and they were in pain as women in travail. 22 And they called upon the Lord who is merciful, and spreading their hands, they lifted them up to heaven: and the holy Lord God quickly heard their voice. 23 He was not mindful of their sins, neither did he deliver them up to their enemies, but he purified them by the hand of Isaias, the holy prophet. 24 He overthrew the army of the Assyrians, and the angel of the Lord destroyed them. 25 For Ezechias did that which pleased God, and walked valiantly in the way of David his father, which Isaias, the great prophet, and faithful in the sight of God, had commanded him. 26 In his days the sun went backward, and he lengthened the king’s life. 27 With a great spirit he saw the things that are to come to pass at last, and comforted the mourners in Sion. 28 He shewed what should come to pass for ever, and secret things before they came.

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