Elijah and the Call to Worship the One True God – Jun 10 – Homily – Fr Michael

 

Fr. Michael M. Gauvreau, FI gives the homily on Jun 10, 2026, explaining that true religion and worship are found uniquely in the Catholic Church through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, which unites our personal sacrifices to Christ's eternal offering on the Cross.

Drawing from the dramatic confrontation between Elijah and the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18:20-40, Fr. Michael illustrates how God validates only the truth. Contrary to the modern sentiment that all religions are equally valid paths to God, there is only one way to the Father, which is through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). True religion requires both believing in the Triune God—a truth rejected by other monotheistic faiths—and worshiping Him according to His divine revelation.

The highest form of worship has always been sacrifice. The ultimate sacrifice in human history was Christ's offering of Himself on the Cross. While Protestant denominations lack this sacrificial dimension, the Catholic Church preserves this perfect worship. In the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the single, eternal sacrifice of Calvary is made present across time and space.

As the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-14), Catholics are called to practice this true religion by centering their lives on the Holy Eucharist. By uniting our daily personal sacrifices with Christ's offering on the altar, we receive sanctifying grace (CCC 1257). This grace transforms our actions, allowing us to merit eternal life and advance on the path to sainthood.

Pope Benedict XVI 2011 – Decide firmly for God and reject deceptive false idols – https://airmaria.com/go/DghnYw
John 14:6 – Jesus is the only way to the Father – https://airmaria.com/go/iQ57Ha
CCC 234 – The Trinity is the central mystery of faith – https://airmaria.com/go/fNkR3X
CCC 1366 – The Mass represents the sacrifice of the cross – https://airmaria.com/go/Hb3TMn

00:00 - Elijah and the Prophets of Baal
01:19 - The Myth of Many Paths to God
02:52 - How God Desires to Be Worshiped
03:31 - The Ultimate Sacrifice of Jesus
04:27 - The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
05:07 - We Are the Salt of the Earth
05:54 - Sanctifying Grace and Eternal Life

Ave Maria!

Mass: Wednesday 10th Week of Ordinary Time - Wkdy
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/061026.cfm
1st: 1 Kings 18:20-39 - Elijah Ends the Drought
Resp: Psalms 16:1-2, 4, 5, 8, 11 - God the Supreme Good
Gsp: Matthew 5:17-19 - Teaching about the Law

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1621

Also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlE6gT9uA_w