2 Kings 2:1-14

Epiphany Last - Year B

2 Kings 2:1-14

Elisha and Ruth have different styles, but both are clear about where their loyalty lies - with Elijah - and - Naomi - and - G*D. While each will benefit from their commitment, they seem to pay attention to their relationship before its perks. They also understand that their action requires a dual connection between Person and G*D. These cannot be separated. Whether focusing first on Person or on G*D, the other is always implied in healthy situations. Problems arise when we claim one or the other to be most important. Again with the “both/and”.

To pay too much attention to the details of the respective stories is to miss the deep relationships. Even if Elisha had not been able to “work” Elijah’s dropped garment, it was enough that he witnessed Elijah’s passing from life to beyond.

The temptation is to think that the magic cloak was all that was left of Elijah. That level of faith makes shrouds and pancakes with a cultural image of Jesus on them into some false proof of the unprovable. I would also appreciate a story-line that had Elisha wading back to work and Ruth not hooking up with Boaz. Imagine how the personal and religious stories might have been enhanced without an easy happy ending.