‘...Let me inherit a double of your spirit’
The
first reading of today narrates Elijah’s ascension to heaven by a whirlwind.
Before he was taken up, Elijah told Elisha his servant to; ‘ask what I shall
do for you before I am taken from you.’ The young Prophet replied, ‘I beg you, let me
inherit a double share of your spirit.’
Seeing
the great works of his master, Elisha desired a double of his power. And his
heart desire was granted. Returning with a relaxed mood of accomplishment, he
got to the river Jordan and struck it with the cloak saying, ‘where is the
Lord, the God of Elijah?’ The water parted
and Elisha crossed over.
In the Gospel Jesus warns against the outward show of piety. This makes religious exercise an end in itself and of course, its own reward. He talks about the secret place where we encounter the God who sees in secret and who rewards us. ‘But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.’
Such a piety, which is in touch with God who is in secret and sees in secret, must flow from the secret place where God dwells—the heart. Thus, the heart, the secret place of piety must be made available for God through desire. Like Elisha, we should desire a double of the spirit of Elijah. By desire, the heart is inclined to God, ready to welcome Him and also allow Him to see through it.
Nevertheless, our desires can be multifaceted. Hence, it becomes necessary that we shut doors of our hearts, blocking off ungodly desires and distracting inclinations, which tend to pull us out the secret place of God and make our piety a public show. But is it really possible that we desire only God and nothing more?
Like
the Blessed Virgin Mary, who pondered over the word of God in her heart,
reflecting and interacting with the word of God in our hearts draws us deeper
into the secret dwelling place—our inner heart—where
God sees and hears us.
Fr Jude Chinwe Nwachukwu,
C.Ss.R
Mother of Perpetual Help
Shrine,Ugwogo-Nike, Enugu,
Nigeria.
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