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, “It
depends what you mean by Santa.” Santa
Claus is not a man who lives at the North Pole and takes toys to 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. 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
fundamentalists may consider the story historical, more probably Elijah’s
assumption is a figurative way of saying that he dies in God’s favor. The Old Testament has many wondrous testimonies
– Methuselah living almost a thousand years or Ezekiel bringing dry bones to
life being two.
We should be neither defensive of nor disillusioned by the
story of Elijah’s assumption. Calling it symbolic will not compromise our belief
in Christ’s resurrection. Much of the
Old Testament serves as a type for the New.
That is, what the Old Testament suggests is brought to fulfillment in
Christ. The Elijah story, taking place more
than eight hundred years before Christ, confirms the righteousness of God which
comes into full force with the paschal mystery.
Elijah’s leaving a double portion of his spirit on Elisha foreshadows
Jesus’ sending the Holy Spirit on his disciples.
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