Elijah and Elisha

Our first reading today from the Book of Kings continues with the story about the prophet Elijah.  Elijah has basically finished the work God had given him to do.  He defeated the prophets of Baal on Mt Carmel.  He anointed the two kings and ready to hand over his work to his successor, Elisha.  

Elisha, the successor, is ploughing behind twelve oxen. From the text, there is indication that Elisha was a farmer, and perhaps someone with great wealth during that time.  

As Elijah passed by Elisha, he threw his cloak over the shoulders of Elisha. He is passing over to Elisha the prophetic vocation which had been his. The cloak represented both the person and his authority. And, in Elijah’s case, the cloak had miraculous powers which were also being passed on. Elisha immediately accepted the call and ran after Elijah. He just made one petition, namely, to go back and say a farewell to his parents. Elijah granted his request.

Elisha went off but, at the same time, he slaughtered his pair of oxen; and roasted the meat.  Then he shared the meat with his servants.  He was burning his boats and committing himself totally and unreservedly to his calling as God’s prophet and spokesman.

A similar description is about the story of the Greeks at the port of Troy.  When the Greeks landed on the beaches of Troy, they burned their own ships.  Because for them, there was no safety net.  It was either victory or death.  

Elisha’s break with his past vocation was complete. He then went off and followed Elijah as his attendant. ‘Attendant’ is the same word in Hebrew to describe Joshua’s relationship with Moses.

The story is one of a calling being passed on and being generously accepted.

Elisha’s request to go back and say goodbye to his family (whom he probably never saw again) and a relatively prosperous way of life reminds us of the man who wanted to say goodbye to his family before becoming a disciple of Jesus (cf. Luke 10:59). Jesus said that, for a disciple of his, even that should be set aside. As Peter would say: “We have left all things and followed you” (Mark 10:28). And indeed they had.

But Elisha did show the level of his commitment.  He disposed all his property and following the Lord and his teacher, Elijah, with only the clothes on his back.

Questions to reflect upon in our discernment are: what are we still clinging on to, that keeps us from following Christ.  What are some of the things that we need to let go, the kinds of meat that need to be roasted.  What is our current level of commitment to following Jesus right now, and can we improve so that we are wearing the mantle of service to The Lord and His Church.  God bless you!