He Left and Followed

June 14, 2008
Saturday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

Elisha left him and, taking the yoke of oxen, slaughtered them; he used the plowing equipment for fuel to boil their flesh, and gave it to his people to eat. Then he left and followed Elijah as his attendant. 1 Kings 19:21

But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Matthew 5:34-36

Piety

Father, grant me greater understanding of the role that Elijah plays in our faith tradition and sacred scripture. Help me to imitate the obedience and humility of Elisha and all those who leave behind the things of this world in order to follow you. Amen.

Study
http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/061408.shtml

Another element of Elijah’s importance in church history is revealed in today’s first reading. Added to his role as public witness was his role in finding Elisha and calling him. Through this “recruiting,” we begin to learn more of what Jesus demands of us when he calls.

Elisha leaves behind the cornerstones of his life…he kills his oxen and burned all of his plows and tools then kisses goodbye his mother and father. In the New Testament, Peter leaves behind his boats. Matthew leaves his work as a tax collector. In this example, Elijah is pointing the way that Jesus will demand later.

Elijah’s emerging role in the readings these last three days, is one of compass, guide and mentor (along with the troubling incident as a mass murderer). We have seen Elijah in the roles of:
1) Messenger sent by Yahweh (with the warning about the drought)
2) Defender of the faith against the false witness of the followers of Ba’al
3) In retreat, he was patient in prayer awaiting the message of the Lord
4) He was careful in discerning God’s call and not mistaking the message of false gods or false signs
5) He was a messenger proclaiming the coming of the Lord (like John the Baptist later in the New Testament.

As we learn in Luke 1:17, the coming birth of John the Baptist becomes a mirror for us – holding up a light that also focuses on the important role that the two prophets shared. “He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.”

As Joel Miller recounts in his sermon on “Elijah’s Fire and Jesus’ Bread: Elijah was in a difficult line of work. His job description read something like this:
A) Applicant will frequently confront most powerful person of the nation with news that will make him want to kill you
B) Must be willing to sit alone by a river for several years in a row getting fed by birds
C) Must be willing to live with strangers who have hardly any food. Advised to pray that food doesn’t out
D) Must be able win duals with other prophets when outnumbered 450 to 1
E) Must be able to receive revolutionary insights from God and communicate these clearly and concisely to a nation that doesn’t care.

Not only did Elijah come to know God and serve God, he also knew who God was NOT. He rejected the worship of Ba’al and pursued the truth of Yahweh. He knew that God was not the fire, the hurricanes or the storms. Instead, God was the small hand coming from the sea or down from the clouds.

All that said, if he won such a strong victory for the Lord against the priest who worshipped Ba’al, why did he have to kill them all? Wasn’t victory enough?

Action

“Please, let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and I will follow you.”

Tim Russert has kissed his father for the last time and has now followed.

With his sudden death Friday, the high profile Washington Bureau chief for NBC News and host of “Meet the Press,” gives us a chance to watch those pundits and journalists in the “public square” pay tribute to the life of one of the leading Catholic men of our day. Mr. Russert made no secret of his faith. He spoke proudly about how he stood on the shoulders of his father, a veteran of World War II who never had the opportunity to go to college like he did and how his son, Luke, also stood on the values that were passed on in the family.

Check out some of Mr. Russert’s comments about his life his family and his faith in these short interview segments on faith and politics.

Mr. Russert showed the same respect for his parents that Elisha did before being called to follow Elijah. Four years ago, Mr. Russert wrote a book about his still living father who survives the death of his famous son. Then last year, he authored another book about the reactions that people had to his first book with letters about their own fathers.

On Sunday – ironically Father’s Day -- Tom Brokaw will host a special edition of Meet the Press to look back on Mr. Russert’s career. Kiss your mother or father this weekend and then try to watch tomorrow’s special program.

Timothy John Russert, Jr. (1950-2008).
May all the souls of the faithfully departed rest in peace.
Amen.