Proper 8 - Year C

Welcome Statement

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Old Testament Reading - 2 Kings 2:1-14

2 Kings 2:1–14 NRSV

Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 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 you.” 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.” Then 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. Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground. When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” He responded, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.” As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha kept watching and crying out, “Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, saying, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” When he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.

When We allll Get To Heaven…

Elijah, the most well known and probably considered the greatest of the Prophets apart from Christ, just said his final farewells. What is not immediately clear as we read this text is why Elijah of all people is worthy of skipping death and going into heaven. He is one of two individuals who appear to be worthy of receiving such a gift. The other in the bible is Enoch. Only, the interesting thing is, Enoch is no one special, he is just another patriarch on the journey, he gets only a brief mention in Genesis 5, where he is described as a part of the lineage to Noah, there seems to suggest that it does not require one to be extraordinary to receive such a gift, perhaps it is faith, or perhaps its an unmerited gift of God.

To me, I see two contrasts, Elijah, the top of the top of prophets, still had an ocean between him and God even though he was the most righteous of the prophets, and he was wheeled up in chariot and fire. I see this declaration of Chariot and fire pointing to that It is faith and righteousness where one wields power, not in the shield and sword. For example, when we see the descriptions of the Armor of God, we realize this Armor is simply spiritual virtues, truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Word. These are all virtues with the endurance we find is limitless in Christ, we think grabbing arms will save us, when in reality, only faith saves us. There is a time to fight, our broken world has forced us to sometimes make that choice, yes, but those choices have to always be pointing towards God. Our strength must be informed and found in righteousness, not anger, envy, and pride. The most interesting part is, this also points to the raising up of Christ, because Elijah does not simply go to heaven and the line of prophets end. No, the mantel (his cape) is described as being passed on to Elisha, who then goes on to be accepted as the continuation of the line of the prophets, to share the Good news that YHWH is eternally faithful. We see this mirrored in Christ. Elijah takes on the archetype of the father in the trinity, sharing his blessings through spirit, which that spirit then is filled through a double portion to elisha, who is the son going out into the world to tell the news. This trinitarian formula is repeatedly seen in both old and new testament stories. In the Case of David, Samuel is the one sending him forth, acting as the gatekeeper, David then receives that blessing of the spirit.

This is important. Christ is a continuation of the law and the prophets, his law of love is contingent on the promises of YHWH of old, of Elohim, what we call God, that has somehow emerged in our own personal lives, yet still somehow transcendent to have omnipotence over all matters.

Left Alone

The hardest part of this passage, one that I think echos an ache many experience on mothers day and fathers day, or at family reunions, is the loss of someone important, or foundational to their lives. Elisha loses his spiritual father figure, Elijah, and now must go do his work alone, or so it seems. The passing of the Mantel, the receiving of the double portion of inheritence is paramount to this text. In Deuteronomic law, we see this idea played out:

Deuteronomy 21:17 NRSV

He must acknowledge as firstborn the son of the one who is disliked, giving him a double portion of all that he has; since he is the first issue of his virility, the right of the firstborn is his.

While not a 1:1 comparison, it shows the shift from natural or civic law, to a moral law, one that is predicated on one’s faith in God and relationship with others, not on whose family someone is a part of. Elijah makes clear it is God who gives the double portion, and we See God, give double to Elisha, just like how God gave Job all he lost and then some.

This is a declaration of God’s faithfulness and generosity in our lives.

The New Testament reading plays to this fact, but it also has a tough call for us as beleivers in the 21st century to be faithful to this law of love, and what sacrifices it demands of us.

New Testament Reading - Luke 9:51-62

Luke 9:51–62 NRSV

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village. As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

[The Gospel of the Lord]

[Praise be to God.]

You Don’t Know what you are Asking

We teach kids not to play with fire. Ironically, Christ’s kids here, the apostles, are trying to play with God’s fire, something that isn’t really recommended. His fire can be redemptive, but it can also be dangerous as it is holy. Some manuscripts, particularly those used for the KJV and NKJV versions, list what Jesus actually rebuked them with, which I think is really important to understand.

Luke 9:54–56 NKJV

And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?” But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” And they went to another village.

Don’t Let the world distract you from the Kingdom

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Double Portion of the Spirit

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Closing Statement

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Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, adfs asdfa

Amen.

Doxology / Benediction / Closing

May you Have a Blessed Sunday, and rest of your Week! Amen!