A mantle to accept

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today are connected to important events in salvation history. The impact of the prophet Elijah on life in Israel is summarized by J. Hampton Keathley III. The passage from the Second Book of Kings today details the transition of the role of prophet from Elijah to Elisha through the taking up of the mantle of Elijah by Elisha. Friar Jude Winkler notes that the ascent of Elijah to heaven in a fiery chariot is a basis for attributing apocalyptic literature, which reveals the nature of God, written in Jesus time, to Elijah. Steve Scholer is reminded by this text of the passing of our close relatives and the desire of the dying to pass on to the living a “mantle” which will guide our path in life. We are the custodians of the spiritual foundation which our parents and elders infused in our being. Friar Jude notes that Elijah and Elisha, St Francis and St Anthony were gifted in connected but unique ways for the service of God. The Gospel from Matthew, written to an audience with a Jewish heritage, addresses the practices of almsgiving, fasting and prayer in the continuation of Jesus Sermon on the Mount. Friar Jude comments that the rabbis, after the destruction of the Temple ( 70 CE) were pressured to recommend practices for atonement for sin which could replace Temple sacrifice. The threefold practice of almsgiving, prayer and fasting was recommended to the the faithful. It continues to be an essential practice, when properly motivated, which Pope Francis exhorts all believers to observe.