Scripture readings for this reflection can be found at Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB
In our first reading for today we hear of the prophets Elijah and Elisha. They both had just finished going from town to town bringing the love of God to Gilgal, Bethel, and Jordon. Elisha followed and served Elijah devotedly in each place that they went. Finally, when it was close to Elijah getting ready to be taken from this world by God, Elijah asks Elisha, “Request whatever I might do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha, in his eagerness to serve God, responds, “May I receive a double portion of your spirit.” Once Elijah was taken up to heaven, Elisha did indeed receive the double portion of Elijah’s spirit. Elisha would go on to bring God’s love and healing to all the people he encountered.
In our zeal in following the Lord God, may
we be as diligent as Elisha when he requested the Spirit that Elijah had. We have all received the gifts of the Holy
Spirit when we were Confirmed. With the gifts of the Holy Spirit that we all have, we can, like Elijah and Elisha, bring the love of God to all we meet
in our lives. We are to be “prophets” in our day-to-day situations, sharing
that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. Whether it’s within our families, or at
work, or in our parish community, we are all called to be like Elijah and
Elisha: to be examples of God’s love to all people.
Earlier, in 1 Kings 19:10, we hear Elijah
say, “I have been most zealous for
the LORD, the God of hosts…” Elijah’s life as a prophet was
difficult. He was rejected by the people he was called to serve and to bring
the love of God to. People in our lives also may reject our message of the love
of God. With the examples of Elijah and Elisha from today’s first reading, let
us all be zealous in our service of God by being kind and loving to all people
we meet, even those people that we find it difficult to love.
From Arlene B. Muller
ReplyDeleteYES, everyone who is baptized has received the Holy Spirit at our reception of the Sacrament of Baptism. When we receive the Sacrament of Confirmation we receive another outpouring of the Holy Spirit to be able to live as mature Catholic Christians & to stand firm In our faith & morals in the midst of a world that has negative elements & vices & that challenges our faith & that is sorely in need of coming to know, love, serve, obey & follow Our LORD.
Often the gifts of the Holy Spirit remain dormant in our hearts & lives. We need to be able to discern what gifts we have received & then cultivate them & use them for the good of the Church & to help those outside the Church to come to know Our LORD & His love. In the Catholic Charismatic Renewal we have the opportunity to be prayed over to "fan into flame" the gifts & fruit of the Holy Spirit we have received in the sacraments.
I think we need more people in the Church who will mentor us & help us discern our gifts & use them.