First reading: 1 Kings 18:41-46

Elijah said to Ahab, ‘Go back, eat and drink; for I hear the sound of rain.’ While Ahab went back to eat and drink, Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel and bowed down to the earth, putting his face between his knees. ‘Now go up,’ he told his servant ‘and look out to the sea.’ He went up and looked. ‘There is nothing at all’ he said. ‘Go back seven times’ Elijah said. The seventh time, the servant said, ‘Now there is a cloud, small as a man’s hand, rising from the sea.’ Elijah said, ‘Go and say to Ahab, “Harness the chariot and go down before the rain stops you.”’ And with that the sky grew dark with cloud and storm, and rain fell in torrents. Ahab mounted his chariot and made for Jezreel. The hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and tucking up his cloak he ran in front of Ahab as far as the outskirts of Jezreel.

To you our praise is due in Zion, O God.

You care for the earth, give it water,
  you fill it with riches.
Your river in heaven brims over
  to provide its grain.

To you our praise is due in Zion, O God.

And thus you provide for the earth;
  you drench its furrows;
you level it, soften it with showers;
  you bless its growth.

To you our praise is due in Zion, O God.

You crown the year with your goodness.
  Abundance flows in your steps,
  in the pastures of the wilderness it flows.
  The hills are girded with joy.

To you our praise is due in Zion, O God.

Alleluia, alleluia!
Accept God’s message for what it really is:
God’s message, and not some human thinking.
Alleluia!