Wednesday of the
Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
(II Kings 2:1.6-14; Matthew 6:1-6.16-18)
“Is there a Santa Claus?” children ask. If they are old enough, one might answer them
saying, “It depends what you mean by Santa.”
Santa Claus is not a man who lives at the North Pole and making toys all
year to take every boy and girl on Christmas Eve. But Santa Claus may be thought of as God
Himself who loves every child so much that He moves hundreds of millions of parents
to express His affection for them. The
story of Elijah’s assumption into heaven told in the first reading may be seen
in a similar way.
It is a fantastic tale.
The old Elijah is walking along with his young companion when a flaming
chariot sweeps him into heaven. Although
biblical literalists consider it historical, more probably Elijah’s assumption
is a figurative way of saying that he dies in God’s favor, perhaps with horses
pulling his casket to its burial place.
The Old Testament is filled with such wondrous testimony – Methuselah
living almost a thousand years and Ezekiel bringing dry bones to life.
We should not be either defensive of or disillusioned by
the story of Elijah’s assumption. Demythologizing it will not backslide into
forsaking belief in Christ’s resurrection.
Much of the Old Testament serves as a type for the New. What is presented there suggests what is to
come in Christ. Elijah, living more than
eight hundred years before Christ, confirms the righteousness of God. His leaving a double portion of his spirit on
Elisha foreshadows Jesus’ sending the Holy Spirit with marvelous powers on his
disciples.
