Loading...Have you had a coach or mentor?
Someone you’ve learned from and come to trust in work, school, or life?
This coach or mentor has probably helped you grow in practicalities, logistics, and the nuts and bolts of a job or sport or art. They may have also helped you grow in philosophy, wisdom, insight, and values.
I’ll be bold enough to say that you are a different person because of this mentor or coach
not because they shaped you (as a potter might do with a lump of clay)
as much as because they helped you to figure out what was already in you.
Michaelangelo famously said that he didn’t sculpt marble
rather the sculpture was already in the marble and he just helped it to emerge.
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Elijah and Elisha (or ‘Jah and ‘Sha) are our main characters in our first reading.
‘Jah was a prophet called by God.
In a time when most prophets were in a guild and were sycophants
to the king and queen and their court
– with all of their religiously and politically wayward ways –
‘Jah was an independent contractor.
Called by God, he springs on to the scene in 1 Kings 17 and tells the king and queen that they are in a long line of royals who have turned against God. Oh, and by the way, as a result of their rejection of God, there is going to be a drought and famine in the land.
During the predicted famine, Elijah does many miracles in the land (healing and feeding miracles). He angers the king and queen and they threaten punishment by death.
He runs away to hide; it turns out that the task of prophet is too much for ‘Jah.
God has Elijah pick out a successor, ‘Sha, and teach him the ways and work of one of God’s prophets.
Elisha becomes a student, a learner, a disciple.
Elijah: the mentor.
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And then the time for God to take ‘Jah into heaven in a whirlwind –
the agreement that God and Elijah have made is that he would not die, but be “taken up”.
‘Sha knew this was going to happen.
‘Jah knew this was going to happen.
One day, the two of them leave their homes in the town of Gilgal with a purpose:
they go on a journey, the last journey of Elijah.
As I read this portion of the story again, notice how many times
Elijah “waves off” Elisha
Elijah gives an out to Elisha
Elijah tells Elisha to turn back;
and notice how many times Elisha says “no, I am going with you.”
Notice how many times the crowds (including crowds of prophets) ask
“do you not know?”
Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent.”
Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here; for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave yo.” So they came to Jericho. The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know; be silent.”
The Elijah said to him, “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on.
As I heard this story read earlier this week, I was struck by the close bond that Elisha has with Elijah.
Yes, it’s difficult.
Yes, he knows what’s going to happen.
Yes, it would be easier to walk away from pain, grief, and even suffering.
But, Elisha’s time learned from Elijah has not been wasted.
The wisdom and hard learning shared
has taught Elisha to stay present
to stay with loved ones
to walk with one another
to pay attention to how God might and will show up
to witness to God’s work in the world.
In this story, ‘Jah offers a final gift: “Tell me what I may do for you.”
Elisha wants to “inherit a double share of your spirit.”
Oh, what a gift that would be!
And it is promised if, indeed, Elisha can stay present and engaged even to Elijah’s end.
If you’ve had to say goodbye/farewell to a mentor, beloved friend, or leader
you know that it can be hard to really stay connected in the midst of farewell.
If you’ve been by the bedside of one who is dying
you know both the difficulty and gift of staying.
There is sadness and deep grief,
but there is also the joy of being beside one who is in the last journey.
There is the one more opportunity for the mentor to teach a lesson
and to share wisdom.
There is this one more way in which God – the Spirit – the breath and ruach of God – is present.
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I am profoundly struck at the juxtaposition of this story of Elijah and Elisha (and their relationship and walk together) with the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus which is our Gospel today.
In the Transfiguration, Jesus goes up to the mountaintop with some of his followers (Peter, James, and John), and who appears but Moses and Elijah!
These disciples, learners, and followers still have much to learn.
They are not yet at the level of Elisha.
They do not yet realize that just being with and showing up has greater value than trying to capture anything.
So, Jesus comes down the mountain to show the glory and presence of God in healing, in teaching, in loving, and in giving hope and life.
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Being present and sticking around even with anxious or afraid is part of our walk with Christ.
Following Jesus even when the way we’re going in the way of the cross is hard,
but it is the way of wisdom.
The life-giving and life-fulfilling spirit of God is freely given,
but if we bail when the following of our Master, our teacher, our mentor
Jesus gets difficult,
then we won’t be ready to receive it.
But, when you show up
as you stay connected to each other in difficulties
as you walk together with courage and faith,
you will know the fullness of the life and breath of God.
You will be filled with the life-giving, courage-giving, joyful Spirit of God.
Amen
