1 Kings 18:20-39 / Matthew 5:17-19
The spectacular always draws the attention of the people.
Whether it is out of curiosity or anxiety, the spectacular can somehow appeal to both.
In the 1st reading, the people were curious about what was going to take place in the standoff between the prophet Elijah and the 450 prophets of Baal.
For the prophet Elijah, he was anxious to draw the people back to the true God, and nothing less than a spectacular miracle would suffice.
And so a contest was arranged with two sacrifices, one for the God of Israel and the other for Baal.
The condition was set, and that was fire would consume the sacrifice to prove which is from the true God.
In the end, the curiosity of the people was addressed and the anxiety of the prophet Elijah turn to victory as the God of Israel sent down fire from above to consume the sacrifice and proved who was the true God.
But we don't have to always look for spectacular miracles in order to have faith and to keep believing in God.
As Jesus taught in the gospel, the one who keeps the commandments of God and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven.
To keep the faith and be faithful to God is already spectacular enough.