Interpretation of Action and Motives

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary show how the action we observe in people, especially people who publicly profess their relationship with God, is interpreted by those around us. Friar Jude Winkler comments on the text from the Second Book of Kings where the mantle of Elijah transfers to his disciple Elisha as the senior prophet is taken to heaven in a what the author describes as a fiery chariot. This observation, according to Winkler, gave Elijah a place in the work of the apocalyptic writers of Jesus time as one who could reveal special characteristics of heaven. The message of Jesus to His disciples about practicing piety from the Gospel of Matthew, written to Jewish Christians in Jerusalem after the destruction of the Temple, is the answer given, at that time, to Jews by the rabbis when they sought advice on practices for the expiation of sin. Jesus however makes it clear that the motive for the practices is crucial. He instructs that prayer, fasting and almsgiving should be done in private. This apparently contradicts Jesus challenge to believers to let our light shine and not hide our light under a bushel basket. The motive of self aggrandizement is of course the issue here. When we act for others and demonstrate the Love of God it is to be as visible and as inspiring as Elijah ascending to heaven. Our actions will be interpreted. We, like Elijah, do not know how our response to the call of the Spirit of God will seen. Winkler comments that Elijah was thought of as more human than the miracle worker Elisha, Francis of Assisi more real than than disciple and miracle worker St Anthony. We can be motivated by serving the Will of God and then let the mantle fall where it may.