Thursday, June 20 : Book of Sirach 48,1-14.

In those days, like a fire there appeared the prophet Elijah whose words were as a flaming furnace.
Their staff of bread he shattered, in his zeal he reduced them to straits;
By God’s word he shut up the heavens and three times brought down fire.
How awesome are you, Elijah! Whose glory is equal to yours?
You brought a dead man back to life from the nether world, by the will of the LORD.
You sent kings down to destruction, and nobles, from their beds of sickness.
You heard threats at Sinai, at Horeb avenging judgments.
You anointed kings who should inflict vengeance, and a prophet as your successor.
You were taken aloft in a whirlwind, in a chariot with fiery horses.
You are destined, it is written, in time to come to put an end to wrath before the day of the LORD, To turn back the hearts of fathers toward their sons, and to reestablish the tribes of Jacob.
Blessed is he who shall have seen you and who falls asleep in your friendship.
O Elijah, enveloped in the whirlwind! Then Elisha, filled with a twofold portion of his spirit, wrought many marvels by his mere word. During his lifetime he feared no one, nor was any man able to intimidate his will.
Nothing was beyond his power; beneath him flesh was brought back into life.
In life he performed wonders, and after death, marvelous deeds.

Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team