Epiphany
Celebration of God
Manifested in the World
February 9, 2015
Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 2:1-12
Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.’ But Elisha said, ‘As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.’ So they went down to Bethel. The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, ‘Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?’ And he said, ‘Yes, I know; keep silent.’ — 2 Kings 2:1-3
I attended a performance of a play today that reminded me of the story of Elijah, whose shoes, or perhaps sandals, were indeed very hard to fill. In reality they never could be filled. The Mountaintop by Katori Hall is imagining at its best as Ms. Hall creates a scene with Martin Luther King Jr. in the hotel room in Memphis the night before he is killed. He calls for room service and has his coffee delivered by a street-smart maid who gave back equal to whatever Dr. King could deliver. He has a great sense that he is going to die and he must deal with what he fears will happen to his quest, when he is gone. Can’t you just image a similar scene with Elijah as the bigger than life man of tremendous, extraordinary accomplishment fearing that all he has given his life for will die with him? I can image Jesus, too, looking down form the cross with only one disciple present thinking, “Did I do enough, are they ready to take the reins?”
We are each called to a mission that is unique to our skills and strengths, but we are all called to make disciples for Christ. As great as Elijah was, as successful as Martin Luther King Jr. was, and with all the saving power of Jesus, their true legacies rest in the work that they inspired in those who took up their mantles, including Katori Hall. I recommend, if you get the chance, that you see this play. Beyond that let us all be guided by the Spirit of God to take up the mantle of Jesus Christ, as Martin Luther King Jr. did, toward a world ruled by peace and justice.
Prayer: Make each of us peacemakers, seekers of justice, and disciple-makers, too. Amen.