Our stories this week tell about Elijah the Prophet and Jesus the Christ being Taken Up, a way of describing Death in a hopeful way. But the stories aren’t about Death at all, rather about the passing of a spiritual indwelling to the next generation of faithful Believers. This is the time of year when Seniors “pass the torch” to Freshmen, when retiring clergy “pass the staff” to the newly ordained. What takes up our energy, our time and our psyche? What’s left to be Passed On?
Elijah has been mentoring EliSHA (play on words intentional) to carry on after he’s gone. This week we find the Old Man and the New Kid at the Jordan River, that frontier between the familiar and that which is yet to be. (II Kings 2:1-14) They’ve just crossed the river with dry feet by striking the water with Elijah’s mantle. (Aha! the Law and the Prophets!) Elijah flings the mantle to Elisha as the Fiery Chariot sweeps him home to God, and the power is passed on…
Paul has no recourse to Chariots of Fire when he upbraids the Galatian congregations for their selfish living. (Galatians 5) Having experienced the new freedom of Christ, they’re taken up by all sorts of neighborly abuse (see the list in vv19-21; has he missed any of us?) Our own arguments of today often say, “Nothing is forbidden, isn’t this the Land of the Free?”– as we gouge our customers, steal their spouses, forget the street-people and gorge ourselves in front of the malnourished! Yet the Fruit of the Spirit take us up from abuse to reconciliation and service this side of the Jordan…
Jesus knew that he was soon to be Taken Up. (Luke 9:51 ff) Having “set his face to go to Jerusalem”, he made his farewell tour from Galilee south through Samaria. He wasn’t welcome there, since the Samaritans believed that worship could be successful at Mt. Gerazim as well as Mt.Zion–and they had Jacob’s well, besides. No, Jesus was going to the Center of Jewish Spirituality and political tradition, and nothing would dissuade him. He was Taken Up with this conviction that Jerusalem must be the venue for his death.
With what are we taken up? Is it the momentary pleasures which trip up the Galatians of all ages? Or is it the steadfast resolution that the public climax of our earthly sojourn must announce some sense of Rightness with God seen in our faces? The mantle, the torch, the staff have all been passed. What will happen now??
God Bless Us,Every One H B King
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