In today's reading, we find the story of Elijah's passing on his mantle of faith to Elisha. As Elijah is taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, he hands over his cloak to Elisha, symbolizing the transfer of his prophetic authority and responsibility.
This passage reminds us that our faith is not just a personal possession, but a gift to be passed on to others. Just as Elijah's mantle was a tangible representation of God's presence and power in his life, so too are our relationships with others a tangible representation of God's love and redemption in our lives.
Elisha's request to remain with Elijah and not leave him was a sign of his deep affection and respect for his mentor. Elijah's response - "Stay here; for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan" - underscores the reality that our callings and responsibilities are not solely about our own desires or preferences, but about the will of God. A lot of times, God will ask of us what at first seems to be difficult, but with faith and trust, built up over the span of a loving relationship with him, we are able to conquer our fears, hesitations and even doubts.
As we reflect on this passage, we are reminded of the importance of mentoring and being mentored. We are called to
learn from one another, to share our experiences and wisdom with each other, and to pass on the baton of faith to the next generation. A good and healthy dose of humility is needed for a student to humbly submit to the wisdom of a teacher, but in today’s world, yes, we need to make sure that wisdom is godly wisdom, and not worldly wisdom which passes. Elisha had the blessing of holy counsel from his mentor Elijah, and so too ought we to seek advice and guidance from those who are holy, and those who have suffered. This was Venerable Bishop Sheen’s criteria for making a good choice when it comes to a spiritual director, for example—those who are holy and those who have suffered will always have the best advice as their wisdom will come from God.
But what does it mean to "pass on" our faith? It's not just about sharing our knowledge or telling our stories; it's about living out our faith in such a way that others are inspired to follow in our footsteps. It's about embodying the values and principles of our faith in our daily lives, so that others may see Jesus Christ shining through us. Yet, this is a gradual walk… a process if you will—a beautiful journey with the Lord by our side—our God and our Mentor.
As we marvel over the beautiful and fruitful life of the Prophet Elijah, we may want to ask: What legacy do we want to leave behind? Are we living out our faith in such a way that others are inspired to follow Jesus? Or are we too busy focusing on our own interests and desires? May we be like Elisha, who remained faithful to Elijah and followed God wholeheartedly, even when it meant leaving behind all that was familiar. May we pass on the mantle of faith with humility, obedience, and joy.
In the gospel today, Jesus teaches his disciples to pray privately, so as not to draw attention to themselves. Similarly, Elijah (1 Kings 17:1) and Elisha (2 Kings 4:25-37) often prayed in secret, away from public view. This is not to say that when we join for liturgical worship during Mass for example, we are doing a bad thing, but rather that our motives and intentions must be pure, humble, and far from seeking honours from those who may be
around to witness us praying. This is particularly important for us priests who continually have a spotlight on us while we offer the Mass. Our hearts need to be in the right place. So pray for your priests, so that they too may be authentic as Elijah and Elisha were.
Jesus also reminds us in today’s gospel, to have absolute trust in how the Father will provide for us. We recall that Elijah was fed by ravens (1 Kings 17:4-6), and Elisha's widow was fed by God through the widow's jar of oil (2 Kings 4:1-7). In both accounts, God provides miraculously for those who trust in Him. Jesus promises that God will provide for those who seek Him (Matthew 6:31-33), just as God provided for Elijah and Elisha through miraculous means.
As we bid farewell to such a faithful prophet of God, in Elijah, we recall that In Matthew 17:10-13, Jesus' disciples asked Him about Elijah's return. Jesus answered that John the Baptist was the Elijah who had been spoken of by Malachi. We thank God for having spoken to us through these specially chosen men, and we ask him for the grace to one day join them in forever rejoicing in his goodness and singing his praises with all the angels and the saints. Mary, Queen of Prophets, pray for us.
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