Chosen

A Reflection on the First Reading for June 30th, 2019:
​Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

1 Kings 19

The Lord spoke to the Prophet Elijah and said, “You shall anoint Elisha, son of Shaphat, as Prophet in your place.”

So Elijah set out from there, and found Elisha, who was ploughing. There were twelve yoke of oxen ahead of him, and he was with the twelfth.

Elijah passed by Elisha and threw his mantle over him. Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.”

Then Elijah said to him, “Go back again; for what have I done to you?” Elisha returned from following Elijah, took the yoke of oxen, and slaughtered them; using the equipment from the oxen, he boiled their flesh, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then Elisha set out and followed Elijah, and became his servant.

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Imagine! One day, you’re plowing your fields with a team of oxen, minding your own business, and all of a sudden, up comes Elijah (of all people) who throws his mantle over you and keeps on walking. I would feel a little taken aback! That’s a lot to process… all of a sudden.

As I imagined myself in the place of Elisha, receiving Elijah’s mantle in the field, I initially confronted surprise, honour, excitement — and then fear and doubt crept in. There must be some mistake, I thought.

Doubt and fear are all too real for me, present even in the purpose for my life that God has placed on my heart. I know that in order to be fully who He made me to be, I need to stand firmly in the place where I believe, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that there is no mistake: God intentionally put His mantle over my shoulders, and He has done the same for every one of us. But how? This is how beautifully God works through His Word. In this simple story, He has demonstrated how we can love like He does; pray and listen, embrace our chosenness, and encourage others in theirs.

Like us, Elijah wasn’t perfect, but he sought to hear God’s voice, and he helped (still helps!) God’s people and in this case Elisha, to hear it too. God’s voice, in the sheer silence (not the wind, nor the earthquake, nor the fire) speaks and tells us how He loves us, and what we are to do with that Love. By showing us, in His Word, the love and the Spirit by which we all exist, God reminds us of what we are doing here, giving our lives a divine purpose. He throws this mantle — this clothing of our chosenness — around our shoulders, and when we wear it with confidence, and quietly speak His love into the lives of others, we can do a lot to reassure them that they too, are chosen for a time and a place such as this.

"He throws this mantle — this clothing of our chosenness — around our shoulders, and when we wear it with confidence and quietly speak His love into the lives of others, we can do a lot to reassure them that they too, are chosen for a time and a place such as this." 

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How wonderful it is when someone, especially someone you respect and admire, really sees you, affirms you, and encourages you. Not because they have any vested interest, but just because they love. When this has happened to me, it has been like wind in my sails, fuel for my tank, rain for the parched soil of my heart. It is the memory of these times that sometimes carries me through self-doubt, gives me resolve to better myself, and courage to try again when I fail. This is what God’s love looks like. This is what being chosen feels like. This is how we are His hands and feet, salt and light for the world.

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
so that those who love your name may exult in you.
For you bless the righteous, O Lord;
you cover them with favour as with a shield.
(Psalm 5:11-12)

​Lindsay Elford

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