20 June 2018
Wednesday in the Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time
Elisha must have been sorrowful at the departure of Elijah. He seems to have lost a great friend. And yet, Elijah’s departure directed, as his life had directed, Elisha and others to the Lord. The only one who would give Elisha strength to be Elijah’s successor would be the Lord. The only one who would pour out the double portion of Elijah’s spirit would be the Lord. And it is calling upon the Lord that Elisha wields Elijah’s mantel and returns over the Jordan.
Once we are honest about our dependence on the Lord, we must turn to Him. In the Gospel, Jesus tells us clearly how to turn to Him in our acts of almsgiving, prayer and fasting. In each of these we are not to act for others to see, or even for our own feeling of accomplishment and self-worth. Rather, we are to act simply and secretly out of love for our Father in heaven. Let us ask ourselves, “How aware am I that I am acting in the sight of my heavenly Father, who loves me with an eternal love? What act of charity, prayer, or sacrifice shall I offer Him today?”