Today we arrive at Elijah’s handing on the baton to Elisha, his successor, which is basically where our reading left off yesterday. This handing on succession comes by a direct command of Almighty God, and constitutes one of Elijah’s final tasks as God’s prophet to his people, Israel.
Coming from the mountain where he had met the Lord through the “sound of sheer silence” (or gentle breeze, in some translations), he comes upon Elisha ploughing behind twelve oxen yoked to ploughs. Elisha himself was following the last one. It seems the other eleven were being driven by Elisha’s servants.
Elisha commits wholeheartedly to his new appointment as prophet, and knowing he will succeed Elijah, he begins to follow him. He becomes an assistant to Elijah in the same way Joshua became an assistant to Moses.
The story is one of a calling being passed on and being generously accepted. It is also a celebration of a life well-lived in the service of God. We too wish to be blessed with a such a holy life of serving the Lord God Almighty, in whatever vocation he has called us to, yet we know this wholehearted service won’t be easy as we will need to detach, and sometimes sever ties with relationships that are not compatible with the calling we have received. Are we willing to let it all go, for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven, out of love for our Lord Jesus?
Elisha slaughters his Oxen, and uses the wood of the yoke to light a fire upon which he would cook the meat and share it with his coworkers as a sign of celebration, but also as a sign of new beginnings for him. The oxen and the yoke would have been his only means to make a living in his former life. And then, to say goodbye to his family (whom he probably never saw again) and to his relatively prosperous way of life, reminds us of the man who wanted to say goodbye to his family before becoming a disciple of Jesus (see Luke 10:59). Jesus said that, for a disciple of his, even that should be set aside. As Peter would say: “Look, we have left everything and followed you” Mark 10:28.
Elisha despoiled himself of all his former belongings, and with just the clothes he had on him, in faith, began following Elijah. This is already pleasing to the Lord whom he will serve now in a role more important than any other back then.
We might ask what do we still cling to in our following of Jesus? What things would we find it most difficult to let go of if we were asked? What is the level of our commitment to following Jesus right now? A lot of us make promises and oaths, but in today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us to simply make our yes and no count. Jesus is calling us to conviction, and to a radical discipleship. Will we be radical for Jesus? How generous are we ready to be with the Lord so as to further his Kingdom? Let us ask the Holy Spirit to continue to strengthen us in our own particular vocations, for with him to guide us, we can never be led astray. Mary, Queen of every vocation from God, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Amen.
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