Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
It seems nothing is hidden today. With Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and the myriad of other social media platforms available, people proclaim how they are feeling, issues at work and even sometimes share details about arguments with spouses and friends. We post pictures of kids, events, our latest family photos, and vacation pictures. For some, nothing seems to be off limits. They place the mystery of their lives on display for all to see.
It is interesting then that the one area of our lives that we seem to keep hidden is our faith. In today's gospel, we are called to not brag about our faith. Even when we give alms, we are challenged to "not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing." But when we don't demonstrate our faith at all, then how will others know we are disciples. Where is the line between living as a disciple and being conceited about our faith? To answer this question we must examine our motivation for our words and deeds.
Do we glorify God with our lives or do we perform good deeds in order to win favor or give glory to ourselves? Are our acts of kindness we done out of a spirit of obedience to God or as an opportunity for ourselves? Duty is a good starting place for our good deeds, yet, isn’t the point of these good deeds that they just flow from who we are like breathing or riding a bike. The very action of consistently utilizing spiritual disciplines can take us to new levels of discipleship.
Elisha has been disciple by Elijah who is his spiritual Father. Elisha’s final request of Elijah was to receive “a double portion of your spirit.” Jewish tradition allotted a double portion of the inheritance to the oldest son. Clearly Elisha understands himself as Elijah’s spiritual heir and that ultimately he will be required to carry the mantle. After Elijah is carried to heaven Elisha quietly picks up mantle and crosses the Jordan on dry land, an image which evokes both Elijah and Moses. Indeed the mantle had been passed.
Today we are reminded that the mantle has been passed to us and that we are to carry it faithfully. We like Elisha have received an inheritance from which we are to live. This inheritance must be appreciated for what it is. It is the foundation upon which we are called to live as disciples, a discipleship which must be lived so that we glorify God and not the other way around.
"God of Wisdom, You who knew us before we were born. Teach us that You alone are the Judge of the Universe and that we play the supporting part. Help us to learn how to better love and support our brothers and sisters so that our community is unified as one Body of Christ. Amen!"
- Michael Montgomery