A Double Share

Beth Ernest

Concord Covenant Church

March 2, 2003

A reading from 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." Elijah said to him, "Elisha, stay here; for the LORD has sent me to Jericho." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they came to Jericho. The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that today the LORD will take your master away from you?" And he answered, "Yes, I know; be silent." Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here; for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So the two of them went on. Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground. When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you." Elisha said, "Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit." He responded, "You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not." As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha kept watching and crying out, "Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

From the Gospel according to Mark 9:2-9

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, "This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!" Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus. As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

Transfiguration 2 Kings 2:1-12; Mark 9:2-9

March 2, 2003 Beth Ernest

A Double Portion

When I began preaching here 23 months ago, some people wondered why I usually use the prescribed lectionary texts for each Sunday. I've used the lectionary most weeks during my last 15 years in the pulpit and I have found that the lectionary surprisingly often offers just the right text for the right day. The Sunday I left the church in Deerfield, the lectionary text was the last words of Moses as he bid his people farewell. Today are the stories of the leave-taking of Elijah who then disappears in his fiery chariot, and the transfiguration of Jesus as he begins his preparation to leave this world and be glorified. And so this week begins the season of Lent, Jesus' journey toward the cross and death.

Do today's scripture readings exactly parallel the situation of an interim Minster leaving her parish? Obviously not, the obvious reasons being too obvious to even waste time mentioning. OK, I'll mention them: 1) I'm not Elijah and 2) I'm not Jesus. No surprises there! And, no, there is no brand new, red Mazeratti sitting outside for a fast getaway. I will still be leaving in my `91 Ford van. And no, there are no surprise visits this morning from past dignitaries. I promise, I won't start to glow. But there is much to commend these texts to this day of transition, or to be more theologically accurate, there is much to commend this day of transition to these texts, for we always begin in the Word and go forth from there.

Notice how thorough Elijah was about his good-bye saying. He went on a whistle stop tour of Israel, visiting all the old haunts, that is, the places of religious significance of his day: Gilgal, Bethel, Jericho, and the Jordan River, before he goes "beyond the Jordan." I envy him this time to say his good-byes; I feel that with my vacation and other obligations that arose earlier in March, I was unable to say good-bye adequately to many of you, at least in person. In some cases I wasn't able to adequately wrap up the pastoral side of my ministry, thanking you, and praying a prayer of parting. Our culture has come to understand the significance of what is known as "closure," that is, recognizing and coming to terms with the end of a relationship, whether it be due to death, moving, graduation, leaving home, breaking up, divorce, or any other number ways we have of parting. In the case of interim minister and congregation, at least, this interim minister and this congregation, the relationship transitions-as I will not physically disappear. After a couple of months you will see me again off and on (in fact, on the 19th you will see me at the fund raiser) but no longer as your pastor. I rejoice that when I see you next, I won't be reminding someone that they are worship leader, or owe Anne an article for the Connection. But I shall miss the sacred access to your lives, the moments of prayer, the hope of being used by God to mold you into a vessel that is useful and beautiful for the ministry of Jesus Christ. It is now my role and my joy to step back and watch your new fun start.

Like Elisha, you wait with anticipation for what is to come. Elisha, ever the faithful disciple, followed the great prophet Elijah around to every stop. He knew his master was leaving, in fact, everywhere he went more disciples told him so, "Do you know that today the LORD will take your master away from you?" "Be silent," Elisha tells them. The tension grows, as no doubt, do his grief and anxiety. Elisha is so bold as to ask Elijah for a final blessing, and not just any blessing, but a double share of the spirit conveyed upon Elijah. Elijah is not able to grant this-it is up to God. If Elisha sees him disappear, it will be so. And of course, Elisha does see "a chariot of fire and horses of fire" as "Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven."

As I depart from you under totally normal circumstances, I would like to ask you if you are ready to ask for a double share of God's spirit. It is not something I have any power to grant you. The spirit is not mine, it is God's, and it already lives in this community. Elisha went on to be a great prophet, but never remembered in the same way as his predecessor, Elijah. Who appears with Jesus and Moses on the mount of transfiguration? Who is remembered every Passover with an extra setting at the table? Elijah! But still, the younger Elisha was great indeed, dealing with stubborn kings, interpreting God's words of victory and defeat, healing, and performing miracles.

Are you ready to ask God to open the storehouses of his power and let it rain down upon you? Sometimes a period of transition is exactly when that takes place. People find they are called upon to exercise gifts that they didn't know they had or gifts that weren't called for with the former leader. Sometimes new ventures open up new possibilities unavailable before. Are you ready for them? In the last 23 months we have firmed some things up in the congregation, we have moved, we have gotten more organized, we have added a staff member, we have tackled stewardship head on, we have paid more attention to fellowship. We have increased certain aspects of the ministry but have left others hanging. There is major work to be done before you are, in my mind at least, a fully functioning congregation. Having a full-time pastor resident in Concord will be a big leap for you. He's going to want to get going. Are you ready?

Without asking for God's blessing, you can forget it! Ask for a double portion of God's help, God's wisdom, God's strength, God's compassion. Elisha did, because he knew he would be needing it. Friends, so will you.

In the gospel story, yet more disciples follow their master with amazing results. Peter, James, and John accompany Jesus up a mountain where very unusual things occur-Jesus begins to glow, Moses and Elijah come to talk to him, a cloud descends and God speaks! Jesus has already told the disciples that he will undergo suffering and rejection, even death (Mk 8:31). Peter actually rebukes Jesus for saying such things! But on the mountaintop, a foretaste of the glory that will be Jesus' is shown to the three closest disciples. When the whole terrifying event is over, Jesus told his disciples, don't tell anyone "until the Son of Man had risen from the dead" (9: 9) Would anyone have believed it anyway? You can bet that day remained high on the disciple's list of strange, inexplicable experiences.

When we are in close proximity to God, when we do indeed receive the "double portion," we cannot always understand it. It may be that much of it seems to happen in a cloud. We can't understand the mystery of God's presence. Analyzing it doesn't help, in fact, we may sound foolish trying to do so. We don't know what to say about what we have seen or experienced.

In other words, while you are praying for God's spirit, and getting ready to say, "yes," to it, don't expect it to all make sense. As Concord Covenant changes and grows, there will be times when you may just have to hang on for the ride. Allow the mystery of God to be a part of your worship, your prayer, and your hope for the future. You will be healthier Christians for it.

Today is a day worth noting. Today we feel a slight anxiety of parting as our mutual ministry ends-will things go well with the new pastor? Will seeds planted come to harvest? Today we recognize a need for yet more reliance on God's spirit. Today we see glimpses of glory in the baptism of two young men. Today we sense the mystery of God as we share ancient symbols of bread and wine.

It is a holy day and in my love for you, I am glad for it.

Let us pray.

Gracious God, protect and encourage these, your people, brothers and sisters in Christ, as they turn to new leadership, as they ask new questions, and commit to new dreams. Bless them abundantly, remind them of your great faithfulness, and do in them more than they could ever think or hope. Bind up the hurts that saddens, still the fears that nag, and let their journey into your future be blessed with peace and steadfast love. In the name of Christ. Amen.