2 Kings 2:1,6-14 Psalm 30(31):20,21,24 Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
It is often said that before leaving an office to prepare for your successor any success without good succession is a failure on the part of the one who succeeded. In today’s first reading, as Elijah was about to depart from Earth, Elisha requested a double portion of Elijah’s power.
As he stepped into the mantle of Elijah, the Lord helped him. All powers belong to God and Elijah proved that in his prophetic ministry even the ruling power of the day.
As baptized Catholics, we have the spirit of Christ living in us. It is the spirit of God that speaks in us and through us. We are warned today to avoid the spirit of hypocrisy, and the spirit of falsehood and to stand for the truth.
Let us make this principle of Jesus the one by which we judge, interpret, and respond to situations of need and challenge. At times it will take some courage to do so, but we can act knowing that we follow the teaching and example of the Lord himself.