Sun., July 18, 2004
(Tone 6)
Sunday of the Fathers of the 1st 6 Ecumenical Councils
3rd at Vespers/1, Prophet Elijah: 1 Kings 19:19-21 Epistle: Romans 15:1-7 Gospel: St. Matthew 9:27-35
1 Kings 19:19-21, especially vss. 19, 20: "Elijah passed by him and cast his mantle upon
him. And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah." The gesture by Elijah was simple - casting of his mantle upon Elisha, but
it changed the man's life forever. The call of God on one's life is compelling, requiring assent and action. Today's reading
records the call of God to the young son of Shaphat, the one chosen of God "to be Prophet in [Elijah's] place" (1 K. 19:16)
and to continue the cleansing of Israel in the cultural war provoked by the idolatries of King Ahab. Elijah's casting of his
cloak upon Elisha gained the young man's instant assent as revealed in his offering of the plough oxen and in his going
after and ministering to Elijah.
That it was God Who issued the call is evident, for Scripture shows that Elijah acted on the basis of orders from God (1 K.
19:16). Further, Elisha did not confer with anyone concerning his decision to follow Elijah, but immediately ran after him
(1 K. 19:20), and, finally, Elisha's unquestioning service to the elder Prophet reveals that his anointing was of God (vs. 21).
All authentic calls to ministry among the People of God issue from God alone. Those who act on the Lord's behalf in
relation to aspirants moving toward Divine service are only vessels of God to carry out His purposes. This truth, revealed
so plainly in the present account, applies even today to the families, confessors, Bishops, Commissions on Ministry, and
Seminary faculties who share in preparing candidates for ministry in the Church. Note: when Elisha says, "I will follow
you," the old Prophet of God replies to him, "what have I done to you?" (vs. 20). Hereby, Elijah makes clear that the call
which Elisha 'hears' is not issuing from the Prophet but from the Lord. He might well have added, "I have done nothing
but issue the call of God."
The instant response of Elisha and the absence of any evident reluctance from his family further reveal the Divine nature of
the call. Slaughtering and preparing a pair of oxen on a moment's notice is no small matter - even for one raised on a farm.
This is true with respect to the loss of the plough stock as well as for the labor involved in preparing them for a feast.
When Elijah cast his cloak on the son of Shaphat, the act was catalytic. It precipitated a response to God's call in the heart
of Elisha and brought about the subsequent actions. Note that Elisha's family joined in the celebration of what God had
wrought within the young man, all of them eating from the oxen that had been instruments of his former occupation. The
break with the past was complete, for his plough-animals were roasted for the meal (vs. 21), and all was done without
discussion. The anointing was accepted as a call from God.
Finally, observe that Elisha comes under the authority of the call from God not merely by following the Prophet of God but
also by ministering to him, by serving under God's designated and anointed servant. In the Septuagint this is especially
clear in the verb choice - "ministered" or "eleitourgei" in the original, from which the word "liturgy" comes. The call to
Elisha from God led him into a public ministry in the Lord's service, just as the text says, Elisha "ministered" to Elijah (vs.
21). In serving the People of God, either anciently or since the Lord Jesus' liturgy on behalf of the world, those called into
God's service are all under the authority of others. There is no place for Lone Rangers within the ranks of the authentic,
canonical ministry of the Church.
This reading should prompt all who call themselves Christians to consider their ministry under Christ and His Church, for
all of us are accountable to God and should be responsive instantly as He calls us to serve in submission to His leaders
within the Body of Christ.
Be mindful, O Lord, of every Bishop of the Orthodox; of our Priests and Deacons, whom Thou hast established to feed Thy
flock; and by their prayers, have mercy upon us and save us.
