WEDNESDAY, ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
2 Kgs 2: 1, 6-14 Ps 31: 20, 21, 24 Mt 6: 1-6, 16-18
LIVING THE SPIRIT OF THE MASTER
Elijah is one of the greatest prophets in the Old Testament. His life is marked with silence, solitude and giving witness to the living God of Israel. As the Scripture says, he ‘stood before the face of God.’ Elisha was his faithful disciple. He prayed to him to give him the double portion of his spirit. Elijah promised him that he would receive his double spirit provided Elisha would see him ascending to the heavens. Elisha was blessed with the vision of Elijah being taken up to heaven and he also received his mantle. He received the mantle and like Elijah performed many miracles. He stood at the banks of Jordan and divided the waters. It was a sign that Elisha had received the double spirit from his master. Elisha will continue to perform miracles and carry on the mission of his master with zeal and enthusiasm.
Master’s spirit is received by the disciple, and the disciple continues his master’s mission. The disciples of Jesus, receive Jesus’ own spirit. It is realized in the way they live their life. His disciples embrace the spirit of love and service externally expressed in piety, almsgiving, prayer and fasting. His spirit is of genuineness, honesty and sincerity. The worship offered to God in the form of piety is not a matter of show or advertisement. God is the giver of every reward. One should not expect reward from others. When we help others by way of almsgiving, it is not be made known to others. Our prayers are expressions of our relationship with God. We must not be like the hypocrites who pray so that others see them. In our deeper relationship with God, we need to shut the external doors and be united with the Father Who is ready to meet us in secret. Our fasting also should not be for the people to see but done in secret for God to see. As Elisha lived the spirit of his master Elijah, let us live the spirit of our Master and Lord Jesus Christ.
Response: Be strong, let your heart take courage, all who hope in the Lord.
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