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| “Elijah Taken Up in a Chariot of Fire” by Giuseppe Angeli, c. 1740 |
Readings and Commentary: [3]
Reading 1: 2 Kings 2:1, 6-14
When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind,
he and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.
Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here;
the Lord has sent me on to the Jordan.”
“As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you,” Elisha replied.
And so the two went on together.
Fifty of the guild prophets followed and
when the two stopped at the Jordan,
they stood facing them at a distance.
Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up
and struck the water, which divided,
and both crossed over on dry ground.
When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha,
“Ask for whatever I may do for you, before I am taken from you.”
Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of your spirit.”
“You have asked something that is not easy,” Elijah replied.
“Still, if you see me taken up from you,
your wish will be granted; otherwise not.”
As they walked on conversing,
a flaming chariot and flaming horses came between them,
and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.
When Elisha saw it happen he cried out,
“My father! my father! Israel’s chariots and drivers!”
But when he could no longer see him,
Elisha gripped his own garment and tore it in two.
Then he picked up Elijah’s mantle that had fallen from him,
and went back and stood at the bank of the Jordan.
Wielding the mantle that had fallen from Elijah,
Elisha struck the water in his turn and said,
“Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?”
When Elisha struck the water it divided and he crossed over.
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Commentary on 2 Kgs 2:1, 6-14
The story of Elijah being taken bodily to heaven gives some unique insights into the reverence with which he is held. We note first that he parts the waters of the Jordan with his cloak, a clear reference to other great leaders of the people: Moses who, through God, opened the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21), and Joshua at the Jordan (Joshua 3:7-14).
We also note that Elisha asked for a “double portion” of his spirit as an inheritance. “Double portion of your spirit: as the first-born son inherited a double portion of his father's property (Deuteronomy 21:17), so Elisha asks to inherit from Elijah his spirit of prophecy in the degree befitting his principal disciple. In Numbers 11:17, 25 God bestows some of the spirit of Moses on others.” [4]
Following the ascension of Elijah, Elisha’s request is apparently granted as he uses the cloak of Elijah to repeat the miracle, opening the Jordan once more. The succession of prophets is complete.
CCC: 2 Kgs 2:9 2684
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 31:20, 21, 24
R. (25) Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.
How great is the goodness, O Lord,
which you have in store for those who fear you,
And which, toward those who take refuge in you,
you show in the sight of the children of men.
R. Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.
You hide them in the shelter of your presence
from the plottings of men;
You screen them within your abode
from the strife of tongues.
R. Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.
Love the Lord, all you his faithful ones!
The Lord keeps those who are constant, but more than requites those who act proudly.
R. Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.
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Commentary on Ps 31:20, 21, 24
Psalm 31 is an individual lament. The faithful are comforted that God may be trusted, and that even in the face of enemies, God, who has shown his love from age to age, will save his people. Placed with Matthew (6:1-6, 16-18), a clear reference is made to God’s love of those who are humble.
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Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door,
and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to others to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”
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Commentary on Mt 6:1-6, 16-18
The Lord continues the Sermon on the Mount. In this selection, the Lord specifically addresses the pious acts of charity, prayer, and fasting, contrasting each with the spurious or pandering acts of the scribes and Pharisees. He tells his audience that when they do these things, do them for God to see, not other people. They are to do what is right for God’s glory, not their own, not so that others will place them in high esteem because of their piety or generosity. In all three instances, almsgiving, prayer, and fasting, the same instruction is given. We are to give generously but in private, we are to pray fervently but alone, and we are to fast with purpose but hide our discomfort. (Omitted from this reading, Matthew 6; 7-15, is Jesus giving the disciples the Lord’s Prayer.)
CCC: Mt 6:1-18 1434; Mt 6:1-6 1430, 1969; Mt 6:2-4 1753, 2447; Mt 6:2 1063; Mt 6:5 1063; Mt 6:6 1693, 2608, 2655, 2691; Mt 6:14-16 2792; Mt 6:16-18 1430; Mt 6:16 1063; Mt 6:18 575
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Reflection:
Heavenly Father, we humbly pray that those suffering from the coronavirus be returned quickly to full health by the power of your Son’s healing presence, and those in fear be calmed through the Holy Spirit.
In Christ’s name we pray. – Amen.
It is common for people who become involved in an area of service within the Church, a ministry or apostolate, to take ownership of it. It becomes their offering to God. It can be simple, like bringing meals to the needy on a monthly basis or visiting the homebound. The more and longer we involve ourselves in these projects the more ownership we take and they can become a source of pride. We are doing what the Lord commands and we are doing it well. In fact we are doing it so well that others who may be attempting the same kind of service can be seen as interlopers or impediments to our service.
Aha! We have fallen into the trap the Lord warns about in the Gospel. We have forgotten who we serve, and who gives us the gifts we share. Our service can become a source of pride in our own ability, and not about glorifying God through that service. It is for this reason the Lord enjoins us to reserve our piety to the privacy of our rooms. It must be seen by others, not shown to others if it is in public.
Telling a story on myself, a number of years ago I had just completed a Benediction service following our weekly First Friday adoration. I felt very good because the homily I had given on the Eucharist was particularly touching (to me). As I was in the sacristy getting out of my vestments, one of the parishioners brought in the clipboard with the sign-up sheet. I happened to glance down and noticed a name by the 2:00 AM time slot. I knew this person, an elderly man. He used to be very active on the finance committee, but then his wife had passed and he had some health set back, and sort of fell from “parish icon” status. Out of curiosity I looked at the sheets from previous months and discovered that this great Christian had come each month on First Friday for over two years. Always he came at 2:00 AM. (I later found out that that was the hour his wife had passed.) Very few people saw him; not many people just drop in at 2:00 AM to adore the Blessed Sacrament.
When I saw this anonymous dedication, I was humbled. Here I was feeling good about speaking publicly about the Sacrifice of Jesus in the Eucharist, while this man had, for years, been genuinely adoring the Lord in anonymity. To myself I said: “And who do you think will be ushered into the Heavenly Kingdom with the words: “Well done, good and faithful servant?”
We are pointedly reminded today of who should receive the credit for what we accomplish. Not only should the Lord be given credit for the good works we accomplish, but giving glory to the Father should be our motivation for taking on the task, any task, in the first place. A hard lesson for us today; one we pray we learn without the public humiliation that frequently accompanies the proud.
In this strange year where many of us will not be able to receive the Blessed Sacrament or celebrate as a community in our houses of worship, we must be prepared to receive spiritual communion in prayer:
My Jesus,
I believe that You
are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment
receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen.
Pax
[1] The picture used is “Elijah Taken Up in a Chariot of Fire” by Giuseppe Angeli, c. 1740/1755.
[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[4] See NAB footnote on 2 Kg 2;9.
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