| The Rev. Catharine W. Montgomery | 5 Pentecost |
| Grace Memorial Episcopal Church | Proper 8, RCL |
| July 1, 2007 | Year C |
A few weeks ago we honored our graduates and blessed them as they begin a new stage of their education and maturing into adulthood. The world they enter is not easy and it is full of unknowns and rules for living and many voices calling them this way and that. As Christians we are called to live by the Ten Commandments. Now in addition to those and all the guilt that goes with trying to keep them, thanks to the Vatican we now have ten commandments for road drivers! How may of those have you broken this week? I am not telling…
Bobby and I have some friends whose four children grew up with our son, Robby. One day after the youngest son had graduated from college, I saw him at the golf course and noticed that he seemed rather dejected and very quiet. I brightly asked the usual questions that young people hate about what his plans for the future might be. “Mrs. Montgomery, I don’t want to grow up. I am not ready to leave home. I am not sure I can make a living and take care of myself!” We both laughed a little, but I sympathized with his anxiety and uncertainty and saw the truth of his words reflected in his face. Kevin was at a crossroads, a turning point…a moment of decision…Faced with the prospect of freedom he wanted to hold on to what was familiar.
Our Old Testament lesson tells us about another young man who was having problems with growing up and letting go. Elisha was a dutiful young son who stayed home helping his father Shaphat plow the fields on the family farm. One day that great prophet Elijah that we heard about last week, saw him working hard and he decided that the younger man was just who he needed to train as a prophet and one day take over for him. So the older man threw his mantle or cape around the young man’s shoulders and said, “Let’s go.” “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye and then I will go with you!” So he did and turned his back on his old life with oxen and plows and went with Elijah the Tishbite.
Elijah appeared on the scene in about 562 BC in the midst of great cultural and political upheaval. He was strong and energetic, full of passion for God and determined to call Israel away from the worship of pagan gods. He was known to wear clothes of leather and animal skins and was pretty wild looking. Who does this remind you of?................
Stories circulated about the miracles that Elijah performed. Wind and fire and chariots and horsemen were part of the legends that surrounded him. For the people of Israel, Elijah was like Yahweh. The 1st Book of Kings is full of his adventures, and when we join him today he is about to retire. The older man knew it was time for him to go and he wanted the young man, Elisha, to take over for him. So Elijah tries to slip away, but the young man sticks to him like glue. “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you!” As they walked along they were followed by a large band of prophet apprentices. Imagine them as junior partners in a law firm….the band of interns in Grey’s Anatomy…the Old Testament version of Yuppies – young and upwardly- mobile professional prophets.
In this story the “company of the prophets” are following Elisha around and warning him that the Lord is going to carry his mentor away…today. No wonder his anxiety level is rising his confidence level is dropping. The young man tries to make them be quiet…
They remind me of those inner voices that wake us in the middle of the night and fill our heads with doubts and nameless fears. Three times Elijah tries to leave but the young prophet won’t hear of it… “Please Elijah, don’t die on me now!” “I don’t want to grow up, I am not sure I have the skills to do your job. Let me stay with you a while longer.” And then they came to the Jordan River.
In the Bible the Jordan River often represents a pivotal point in life – a transition – a time of decision. For Elijah crossing the Jordan is the end of life. For his young friend crossing the Jordan is the beginning of maturity. Every one of us has faced crossing the Jordan moments in our lives. Do you remember the defining moments for you as you crossed from childhood to adulthood? When have you moved from fear of failure to courage to succeed? Some people leave their homes of many years and move to retirement communities or downsize. Loss of relationship can bring you to the Jordan. A death can bring you to the Jordan. An illness may bring you to the Jordan. You may find yourself at the Jordan when you start a new job. Always when we come to the Jordan a decision has to be made.
The older man stood on the bank of the river, rolled up his mantle and struck the water. The water parted and like Moses crossing the sea Elijah and his young helper crossed over. “What do you need to go on from here?” Elijah asked. And Elisha asked for a double share of the prophet’s spirit. The wise Elijah tells the young man no one can give him what he asks for. He must stop running from his fear and have faith. He must watch for and see the power of the Lord.
(Suddenly) “A chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven.” The grief-stricken Elisha tore his clothes, picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the mantle and struck the water, saying, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” When he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and the other, and Elisha went over.’ He was free - free to move on - free to answer his call. Elijah had passed on his spirit.
Paul in his letter to the Galatians says, “For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” We Americans cherish our freedom. This week we celebrate the privilege of living in a free country and we remember with gratitude those who fought for and won our national freedom for us to enjoy. But national freedom is not what Paul was talking about. Paul was talking about freedom from a law that kept people in bondage. He was talking about the freedom Christians have in Christ from sin and death.
Like Elisha we have received a double portion of our inheritance. Our inheritance – the mantle of freedom in Christ is thrown over us in our baptism and a double portion of the Lord’s spirit is given to us in the Eucharist. These two sacraments are our salvation and our help. Where ever you are in your life come to this table in faith and you will be given spiritual power. Like the young prophet we must tear off what ever it is that holds us back – get rid of our baggage. We must pick up the mantle that has been handed down to us and have faith that we can use it to be what God has called us to be as a people and as a church.
Amen