2 Kgs 2:1, 6-14; Mt 6: 1-6, 16-18
Having stood by the river Jordan during a pilgrimage, it is not a large or deep river but to Elijah and Elisha to both use the mantle of Elijah to strike the water and divide it to cross over on dry land is a miracle of God’s divine power and the spirit of God on these men. Elisha calls Elijah “My Father” is a religious title accorded prophetic leaders and thus Elijah is the spiritual father of Elisha. He is also about to be taken up to heaven in a “flaming chariot and flaming horses”. As is the human tradition of those times giving the firstborn son a double portion of his fathers’ property as an inheritance, Elisha now asks for an a double portion of a spiritual inheritance. Elijah seems surprised by the request, “that is not easy”. “Still” Elijah places the request up to the test, “if you see me taken up from you, your wish will be granted; otherwise not”.
As a parent our desire is to leave our children in a better position in life than we lived, ideally an inheritance of “double portion”. We work hard, save, and invest for the future, a future for our children. We write our wills and divide up our wealth and plan for the day we will be taken up to the Lord. What is our spiritual inheritance for them, is it even a passing thought? My parents were fairly illiterate with hardly a first grade education. My mother was able to self-educate enough to read the bible. Education was an important inheritance in my life in a time when many poor families valued children being part of the work force more than graduating or seeking higher education. Education was not the only inheritance it was how I used my education young in life reading books of bible stories and as I grew older the bible. It was an inheritance that valued church and prayer. As early as I can remember I was expected to pray in the morning and before going to sleep. Sometimes we prayed together often on my own but I recall getting on my knees next to my bed to pray.
I remember one day my mother was ill and we were staying at the home of one of my aunts and on Sunday she said I needed to go to church so she told me to go find a church. I was only 8 or 9 years old so I started walking down the streets until I saw a church. I walked into this church I did not know what faith it was or anyone there. I sat in the back and then someone escorted me to the back of the church into a separate room where there were other children. We had bible study and then were brought back to the main assembly. I walked back home at the end and shared my story with her. Even though she had her disability she did not want me to be limited by her limitations even if I had to venture on my own very early in life. These life experiences gave me my spiritual inheritance. God was important and it has brought me to this altar as a deacon.
The gospel is a reminder that the Christian idea of reward is not what the world has to offer but the gifts that come from God. If we look to the world the rewards of the world will offer an “eye for an eye” and we will have been repaid but God offers us double or more of his gifts as our inheritance.
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