Arise and eat, or the journey will be too great for you. (1 Kings 19:7)

A musical lectio divina on 1 Kings 19:1-14

The phrase “Arise and eat” comes from 1 Kings 19:1-14. As Elijah is fleeing for his life, he reaches such a point of despair that he lies down and prays for his own death. Twice, God sends an angel to Elijah bringing food and water, and bearing a simple message: “Arise and eat… Arise and eat, or the journey will be too great for you.” This food, and this encouragement, gives Elijah the physical and spiritual sustenance to continue on his journey to Mount Horeb, where he hears the voice of the Lord tell him to call Elisha. This scripture inspired our title production, a musical lectio divina on this same passage, and the phrase “Arise and eat” perfectly grasps the message of encouragement which we hope to communicate. To be discouraged by our own weakness is one of the greatest dangers in the spiritual life. No matter how many times we fall, God never ceases to invite us back into relationship with himself. So long as we continue to “Arise and eat,” and continue to follow Christ, he will give us the grace to persevere to the end. St. Francis de Sales articulates this beautifully, writing that “It is a favorable feature of this war, that so long as we will fight, we must be victorious” (Introduction to the Devout Life, Ch 5).
“If I should fall even a thousand times a day, a thousand times, with peaceful repentance, I will say immediately, nunc coepi. Now I begin.” - Venerable Bruno Lanteri
About the Founder

Joshua Long is a Boston-based musician, composer, speaker, and author with over a decade of experience actively working in the performing arts. Some of his favorite musical experiences include performing traditional West-African music with Azaguno and the National Drum and Dance Company of Ghana in Accra (2016), his two years touring with Seven, a non-denominational music ministry from Messiah University (2017-2019), and his myriad performances in theaters and theme parks around the Northeast.

Presently, Joshua regularly serves as a cantor with extensive experience singing Gregorian chant and polyphony from composers such as Palestrina, Victoria, Byrd, Lassus, and Josquin dez Prez.

After entering the Catholic Church in 2022, Joshua immediately moved up to Boston to lead children to Christ as a teacher in the inaugural cohort of the St. Thomas More Teaching Fellowship, during which began studying and writing at length on classical education and the liberal arts, having his work published and featured by Crisis Magazine, The Catholic School Playbook, Gravissimum, and Fr. McTeigue’s radio show The Catholic Current, as well as speaking at the Donahue Academy's first Fiat! Conference, presenting on the topic “Marian Humility: the antidote to John Dewey’s pragmatism.” Looking for a way to draw all of his gifts and experiences together in service of the gospel, Joshua founded Arise & Eat in November of 2024.

“In my deepest wound I saw your glory, and it dazzled me.” - St. Augustine, Confessions