Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ (UCC)

On the Departure of the Summer Youth Mission Experience
Proper 8C / Ordinary 13C
Focus Texts: 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14, Luke 9:51-62

You’re on your own now…

There’s a story about a famous preacher who was a bit of a fraud, because the sermons were great but no one ever realized that in fact they’d all been written by the staff assistant. Finally the assistant’s patience ran out.
One day the preacher was speaking to thousands of expectant listeners and at the bottom of page two read the stirring words, “And this, my friends, takes us to the very heart of the book of Habakkuk, which is…”
He turned to page three and saw nothing but five words: “You’re on your own now.”

Two Ways to think

Our two stories today land us in a moment of decision.
And each, in their own way, place the protagonists “on their own.”
On one side, we see Elijah transcend his mission and Elisha take up his task. On the other, we have Jesus “turning his face” to the closing acts of the Gospel. They stand in a creative tension, settling into a moment of time that will change the course of their story—our story. They live in the middle realizing the Realm of God.

A new Mantle for Mission

Jesus is headed toward Jerusalem. Twice we are told that Jesus “set his face to go to Jerusalem.” I take it as a moment when Jesus sees beyond the human mission of healing, freeing, or feeding. He is setting off on a high-risk mission and he does so purposefully, turning to “face” it head on. Still with the faithful followers, Christ was on his own.

But woven into the story is Samaritan ambivalence about this move, since Jerusalem is not the center to which they would have him turn. They will not receive him into their village. Focused beyond the simple, human needs to keep the status quo status quo, Christ was already looking beyond to the larger challenge.

Elisha is also headed for Jerusalem, with a similar call to action. The story of Elijah and Elisha come from different groups within the Hebrew people, living in different places, using different names for God, etc. The stories have been woven together so that it is difficult to separate one from another. A mish-mash of meaning, what is clear here is that God is doing something different, something new, in the lives of the children of Abraham and Sarah.

Elisha’s job would prove to be challenging in its own right, preaching truth to power, and warning of the impending threat of from being a divided people in a time of great conflict.

Authentic you

Some have suggested that Elijah and Elisha may be two names for the same person, coming from two different groups, reconciled by making one the successor of the other. In any case, they present two people with similar ministries and somewhat different personalities and approaches. Elijah is the rough-and-ready, brash, character who goes at things head on—a contest in calling down fire from heaven, for example. Elisha has a more spiritual approach, his stories containing more miraculous elements. God can work through both kinds of personalities and approaches. With either approach, these two prophets stood on their own, challenging the Hebrew people to the task before them.

The selections from the two books of Kings seem to be two versions of the passing of leadership from Elijah to Elisha. In I Kings 19, it is fairly straight forward and down to earth. After Elijah’s encounter with God is the wilderness, he is sent back to anoint a couple of kings and to anoint Elisha as his successor. Elijah simply throws his mantle over Elisha’s back, the mantle being the symbol of spiritual presence and authority. Elisha wants first to go back and tell his family good-by. (vs. 20) In contrast to what happens in this week’s Gospel lesson, he is allowed to do so, in fact, prepares a feast which his people all eat before he departs. “Then,” the story continues, “he set out and followed Elijah and became his servant.”

The version we encounter today from II Kings, Elijah and Elisha are walking to a place where Elijah is going to be taken up “to heaven by a whirlwind.” He keeps telling Elisha to stay behind and Elisha keeps saying, “No.”) Elisha wants a “double share” of the power Elijah has, and seems to want to ensure the purpose of his coming mission.

Then it happens: a chariot of fire and horses comes and Elijah ascends into heaven in a whirlwind. Pretty dramatic, huh?

Now that the mantle of Elijah falls to the ground. Elisha picks it up, using it to part the Jordan River. (vss. 13-14) That’s where the recommended reading ends, but it’s certainly incomplete without the next verse (15), where the prophets who were observing all this declare, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.”

Recruiting

That easy transition contrasts with Jesus’ message to his followers on the move to Jerusalem. To the eyes of those around him, it sounds like something strange has happened. Jesus is not looking to the poor or needy; He is even turning away those who would willingly follow! And then, there are these challenges to the value of home and family, the very things we hold most dear.

“The Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Does following Jesus really mean becoming rootless and homeless?

“Let the dead bury their own dead.” Could Jesus really be asking us to neglect our basic human instinct to honor our deceased?

“No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Could Jesus really be saying that following him means not giving so much as a backward glance to the ones we love?

How different Jesus’ admonitions seem from the story of Elisha. Elisha literally has his hands to the plow when Elijah calls him as a prophet by casting his mantle over him. Elisha does look back, and asks to kiss his parents goodbye. Elijah doesn’t reprimand him, but allows him to return.

But look at how Elisha goes about his farewells: he slaughters his oxen, and burns the yoke and plow to cook his parting feast. What he is doing is sacrificing all the implements of his old life and career. He’s bidding farewell not only to his family, but to his entire former role and identity.

Elisha understands that the prophet’s mantle is not only a new garment, but a new life, calling, and identity. He grasps the total commitment involved in following the path of the Spirit, of walking in the way of the Lord.

Connection

Now, today, we send off our own in mission. Our youth set their eyes, not for Jerusalem, but for Franklin—Almost Heaven. They have accepted the mantle of mission that has been the hallmark of our ministry with youth: stepping away from the comforts of our lives here in northern Virginia, and walking for awhile in someone else’s shoes.

Will we have a place to lay our heads?

Yes. More than that, we will be making sure others have a simple, decent place to call home.

Can we look back? You betcha!
Come and listen and see the story we’ll have to tell on the Tenth of July.

Will we be able to finish what we started?
That, only God can tell. But… this is my fourth trip with the YoRS youth. And I can bear witness: we get done what is asked of us. Whether the yoke is light or heavy, hot or wet, we bear the task with love and grace.

This is our calling as the hands and feet of Christ’s body.
And we know, “We’re not on our own; we’re in good company.” Joined by the youth of three other congregations in the Potomac Association, we will be 30-strong. Youth, adults, skilled, novice—whatever is asked, we’ll make it happen.

The Finish

These are our stories, challenging, easy, complex, and simple. They reminds us that God not only calls us, but equips us with what we need to fulfill our calling. It's a powerful reminder that we're called to great things - that God expects great things—awesome things—from us, but that God doesn't expect us to do it on our own. Not because we're lazy, but because the things God asks us to do are oftentimes outside the realm of human possibility.

Except when we walk together in all of God’s ways. “We’re not on your own.” Not hardly.

Whatever God is calling you to do, whatever God is still speaking to you at home, or work, or vacation—or on a mission trip—to do, it can be done. With God's help.

It's time for each of us to think small no more.
Find your mantle. Roll it up tight. And let’s get to work. Amen.