Wed., April 21, 2004
Christ is Risen!
Hieromartyr Januarios, Bishop of Benevento
12th of the Paschal Vigil: 2 Kings 4:8-37 Apostle: Acts 4:13-22 Gospel: St. John 5:17-24
2 Kings 4:8-37 RSV, especially vs. 28: "Then she said, 'Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not say,
Do not deceive me?'" When the miracle child of the Shunammite unexpectedly and suddenly died, his mother hastened to
the Prophet Elisha and "caught hold of his feet" (vs. 27). This ancient custom of clasping the feet, which denotes both
submission to higher authority and urgent petition, is worthy of our study. The wife of the arrogant Nabal falls at the feet
of the guerrilla chieftain, David, begging for the life of her husband (1 Sam. 25:23-31). Queen Esther falls at the feet of her
husband, King Ahasuerus, seeking his interdiction to prevent the genocide of her people (Esth. 8:3-8). A minor slave seeks
redress for a small debt from his fellow slave, a highly trusted servant of their lord and master (Mt. 18:23-34). The Prophet
Isaiah, looking forward to the Messianic age, tells God's People that "Kings shall be your foster fathers, and their queens
your nursing mothers; they shall bow down to you with their faces to the earth, and lick up the dust of your feet. Then you
will know that I Am the Lord..." (Is. 49:23).
The most striking discovery can be gleaned from an extended study of this custom. The vast majority of instances of this
behavior reported in Scripture are centered on the person of our Lord Jesus Christ: the lame, the blind and the maimed are
laid at His feet (Mt. 15:30), the Myrrh Bearers clasp His feet outside the empty tomb (Mt. 28:9). In addition, this same
behavior is recorded of Jarius, a ruler of the Synagogue (Mk. 5:22), a Syro-Phoenician woman (Mk. 7:25), a sinful woman
(Lk. 7:36 ff), a liberated demoniac (Lk. 8:35), and twice by Mary of Bethany (Lk. 10:39; Jn 11:32). But most astounding,
as the disciple Peter's reaction makes evident, is the account of the role-reversal by the Lord Jesus when He washes His
disciples feet (Jn. 13:5-11).
In the account of the Shunammite woman, note that she fell at the feet of the Prophet Elisha twice (2 Kngs. 4:27,37). The
first time she clasped his feet because she experienced the death of a vision which she had received by the grace of God
through the Prophet's intervention. In this act, the element of petition is dominant, though not the only feature of the
woman's action. The second time, her act is nothing but a beautiful outpouring of gratitude to God and His Holy Prophet.
Gratitude, of course, is the dominant feature of several of the New Testament records associated with those who fall at the
Lord's feet. Especially let us note the sinful woman (Lk. 7:35 ff), a leper who was cleansed (Lk. 17:16), and supremely the
Myrrh Bearers (Mt. 28:9).
In all these cases, we may note a rich measure of gratitude because a vision from God, previously lost, is resurrected. The
Shunammite woman initially was in despair seeing the vision of a son and heir wasted by cruel death. She points out to
Elisha, "I never even dared to ask you for a son, and yet, as a man of God, you not only gave me the vision of an heir, but
your intercession resulted in a living flesh and blood child" (2 Kngs. 4:28). The leper who returned to give the Lord Jesus
thanks discovered in his healing that God had not abandoned him. He fell at the Jesus' feet because the vision of a caring
God was rekindled in his heart. Let the other nine go their way; he had to give thanks to God in the one sure way he could
(Lk. 17:15-16).
Beloved of the Lord, we who are united to Christ know in the depths of our hearts what transpired for the Myrrh Bearers.
To encounter a radiant angel, a stone rolled back from the door of the tomb, and military guards stricken like dead men, the
women had to reconsider the vision that God had given them. They had believed in Christ, but He had died on the Cross
(Mt. 28:2-7). Now, He Himself stands before them in the flesh - the vision restored (Mt. 28:9)!
Come let us worship and fall down before Christ. Save us, O Son of God, Who art risen from the dead, who sing to Thee,
Alleluia!
