Successor to the great prophet Elijah, the prophet Elisha of the Old Testament is celebrated on June 14th. This feast holds special importance for Carmelites as both Elisha and Elijah resided on Mount Carmel and communed with God there for many years. Though we don’t have specific dates of either the birth or death of Elisha, the Church in her wisdom chose June 14th for his feast for liturgical reasons.
Elijah and Elisha are meant to foreshadow Christ and His apostolic succession. Just as Christ ascended into Heaven body and soul, Elijah is assumed into Heaven by a whirlwind and chariots of fire. Elisha asks for and receives a double share of his spirit and picks up his mantle to continue his work in Israel. This foreshadows Pentecost, when the apostles are given the Holy Spirit and go out to continue Christ’s ministry. For this reason, his feast is celebrated right at the end of the Easter season and in the Pentecostal season.
Elisha was first given Elijah’s mantle when he is found plowing in his field. From that day forward, he devotedly followed Elijah for the rest of his time on earth. After Elijah is taken up to Heaven, Elisha leads a band of lesser prophets that had begun to follow him and Elijah. He continued to prophesy to the kings of Israel as his predecessor did and called them back to worship of the true God. He also performed several miracles, up to and including resurrecting a boy from the dead. It is even recorded in the Bible that after Elisha had died, a man was struck down and landed in Elisha’s grave, and upon touching his bones, he was revived. So it seems his double share of the spirit may not have even left him completely in death.
Practical Lessons
- Follow God’s Call: When you hear God’s call, be like Elisha and follow him completely and without hesitation.
- Imitate Christ: In a special way, Elisha was meant to foreshadow Christ through his ministry and miracles. However, we are all meant to imitate Christ in our everyday. In all that you do, let Christ’s light shine through that you may bring others closer to Him.
Prayer
O, St. Elisha, pray for us that we too may obtain a double portion of the Holy Spirit. Ask that we may, like you, be given the grace to follow the Lord’s will for us and through our obedience to His will, bring others into relationship with Him. Amen.
