Elijah is found on a pilgrimage towards the mountain of God known as Horeb. We are instructed that the period of time for his pilgrimage lasted a total of forty days and forty nights. This mountain is symbolic of Heaven and this period of forty days and forty nights is symbolic of one’s journey through life. It was understood that this journey would be most difficult for Elijah and therefore he was instructed to get up and eat in order that he may be strengthened for this journey that he had to undergo.
I hope that each of us realize that we too share in this same journey. That we too are given a period of forty days and forty nights to accomplish this journey for this number is symbolic of the totality of our life. Be our life short or long it doesn’t matter because we find ourself on this same path. Our goal should be the same because our goal should be this mountain known as Heaven. For here we will be joined with all the angels and saints for all time in our adoration of the Triune God.
Just as Elijah’s journey was tough, so too is our journey through life. If Elijah did not receive sustenance from the angel he never would of accomplished his goal. His life would have come and gone and yet he would of never reached this mountain of God known as Horeb. When it comes to our ultimate end some never consider that Hell is indeed a possibility. We cannot presume our salvation, but rather we should invoke our Lord who is merciful.
It is for this reason that we should frequent the sacraments such as confession because through this sacrament we encounter the mercy of God. We are not trying to earn our salvation by what we do, but rather we are participating in the life of faith that is required of us from the very moment of our baptism. In this participation we also participate with God in our acceptance of His mercy which is constantly being poured out upon each of us.
Just as Elijah needed food for his journey we too are in need of such sustenance and thus we are fed by the Most Holy Eucharist. The Eucharist must become our food for our journey towards eternal life. As Christ came to exclaim in our Gospel: “I am the living bread that came down from Heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” Viaticum is the Latin word used for receiving communion prior to one’s death. This means “food for the journey.”
