Sirach's Eulogy for Elijah and Elisha

Homily for Thursday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

Chapters 44 through 50 of the Book of Sirach provide us with a compilation of eulogies for the heroes of the Hebrew Scriptures. Today, we read from chapter 48 which eulogizes Elijah and Elisha. All of the men and women share common traits. First of all, they are human beings who, like all human beings are limited and possess weaknesses as do all of us.

Perhaps the most important characteristic that they share is their fidelity to the call that God issued to each of them. For some of them, we know how they were called; however, they all were called. Although many of the kings of Israel were not faithful, there are a couple included in these eulogies.

Elijah and Elisha are represented by fire. They were two wonder workers of ancient Israel who seem so mysterious. Today’s reading does nothing to clear up the mystery. They are most significant to us as pictures of what God was to do for all through the risen Christ. Three aspects of their lives especially point to our Lord: bringing the dead back to life, ascending to heaven, and bringing about the day of final reconciliation. Christ has risen, ascended to his father, and now works through the Holy Spirit to reconcile all people, to raise all to new life in God.

The “Our Father” concentrates our attention and energies on cooperating with the work of the risen Lord. God’s name will be holy before all, the kingdom of God will come, the will of God will be accomplished insofar as we allow the power of the risen Christ to operate in forgiveness. If greed or the desire for wealth is the root of all evil, then a willingness to forgive, to let go of the grudges and hatred that cause so much suffering is the root of all good.

While all of the heroes of Israel were human, Jesus is both human and divine. Where the heroes may have failed, Christ succeeds. They all succeeded by pointing the way to Christ’s coming into the world. This is also our mission. Our lives must be signs that point the way Christ.