Welcome back to the Jesse Tree on the Catholic Sprouts podcast.

Today is Monday of the third week of Advent.

David was a good and faithful king, but nearly all of his descendants, who also became king after him, failed to follow in his footsteps. Many were wicked. They abused their power

and oppressed God's people. Two hundred years after David's rule, the kingdom of Israel was

split into two parts, the north and the south kingdoms. One king in the northern kingdom, King Ahab,

turned his back on God and worshipped the false god Baal. Many of the Israelites followed his

example and committed idolatry. Even then, however, God did not turn his back on his people. Instead, he called up prophets

to confront evil and preach repentance. During the time of King Ahab, God called up the mighty prophet Elijah.

Listen now to the story of the prophet Elijah and the wicked priests

of the false god, Bail, found in the first book of kings. First Kings 18, 25 through 29, 36 through 39.

Then Elijah said to the prophets of Bail, choose for yourselves one bowl and prepare it first,

for you are many, then call on the name of your God, but put no fire to it.

So they took the bowl that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Bail from

morning until noon, crying, O Bail, answer us. But there was no voice and no answer.

At noon, Elijah mocked them, saying, cry loud, surely he is a God. Either he is meditating,

or he has wandered away, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.

Then they cried aloud, and as was their custom, they cut themselves with swords and lances

until the blood gushed out over them. As midday passed, they raved on until the time of the

offering of the oblation, but there was no voice, no answer, and no response.

The prophet Elijah came near and said, O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,

let it be known this day that you are God and Israel, that I am your servant and that I have done all

these things that you're bidding. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so that this people may know that you,

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