From today’s Old Testament reading, from the second book of Kings: ‘Then Elijah said to him [Elisha], “Tarry here, I pray you; 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 sons of the 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, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground. When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “I pray you, let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” And as they still went on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more’.

‘The water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground’. These words recall the Exodus, and most fittingly, for it is another Exodus that we are seeing here.

In these times, when there is so much tragic death around us, let us remember the Exodus, and the chariots of fire, and trust with all our hearts that God takes care of us all, in our life and in our death. May God bless you.