"Prompts" Promises6/19/2024 Wednesday of the 11th Week in OT
In today’s first reading, Elisha asks Elijah for a double portion of his spirit before he is whisked away in the chariot of fire. He is "promptly" given what he asked for. As I reflect on the last 8 days of retreat, I feel a bit like Elisha, having been given a “double portion” in the exquisite beauty of the sunrises as well as the power of the prayer experiences, especially in the final days. Last year on retreat around the same time, it was cold, rainy, foggy and rarely was the sunrise visible. The “double portion” came in the final day of prayer that left me reeling with its power. This retreat had much less drama internally but I was witness to the “drama” in the skies. As I’m sure you know, it’s always a challenge to end a retreat where you are so focused on God’s spirit working in you and return to your ordinary life and work. On retreat, you are hopefully more attuned to the Spirit’s prompts who seems to be saying, “Look there, listen to this, notice that, let go.” I’m hoping to pay attention to the Spirit’s prompts, even if I’m not facing the East and seeing the dawn and the sunrise each morning. And I hope to do that “promptly.” One of the prompts I received this morning was to look at what I had written 2 years ago when we had the same readings as today. I was still at Eastern Point at the time. “Double” Trouble When Elijah asks Elisha what he would like him to leave for him before he is whisked off in the whirlwind, Elisha responds “A double portion of your spirit.” His asking for an “extra helping” struck me as something that we sometimes really need on our spiritual journeys. St Ignatius speaks of the experience of desolation when you feel abandoned by God or have no feeling that helps you to know God is with you. At those times you feel like you need a “double portion” of God’s spirit to get you going again and have a sense of purpose. Elisha does receive the double portion of Elijah’s spirit as he clothes himself in the mantle of his mentor. I find myself needing a “double portion” of God’s spirit today. As I looked out the window this morning, I saw that our precious pine tree was now completely felled, with all of it branches cut off. Since her felling last October, she has been with us in a different way; a reminder of the fragility of life. Her wood is intended to be used for a Cross that will stand on the property, aligning her with the Paschal Mystery of Christ’s death and Resurrection. The Gospel today is the one we hear on Ash Wednesday and one that signals the beginning of Lent as we join our minds and hearts with the mystery of Jesus’ suffering and death on a Cross. It seems appropriate for a day when there is a double portion of sadness as the mantle of greenery that this pine tree wore is removed from her and yet there is the hope that she will “rise” again, passing the mantle of life to become a symbol of hope in the Resurrection. In the meantime, there is another pine tree near by that is being “choked” by bittersweet. I feel compelled to free him/her. I think I’ll need a double portion of energy to do that! If I think of Petronella’s mantle being passed to another pine, maybe I’ll receive what I’m asking for. WOW! Reading this two years later prompted me to reflect on the mystery of God’s time. As you have seen, the pine tree was “raised” up in the form of a cross and the other pine, Skye, was freed from the bittersweet and seems to be doing ok. I wrote about Skye this past week.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorAs an ordained Catholic priest for 45 years and a member of the Jesuits for 57 years, I've had a great deal of "spiritual" experience! This is a place where I can continue to share my thoughts about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and what it means to live the "mystery of God." Categories |
Proudly powered by Weebly