Breaking the Word

In the first reading, Elijah asks Elisha what gift he would like to receive from God. Elisha asks for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. Here Elisha is not asking to be better than Elijah in ministry, rather he might receive a special relationship with God, just as Elijah had. Elisha and Elijah have had a special, close relationship of master-prophet to his apprentice. There were many disciples for Elijah, but none as close and as special as Elisha. They were like father and son. Thus, Elisha asks for the blessing with a father reserved for the first born – twice as big a share in the inheritance as the other children. Elisha does not ask to be more famous or more powerful than others, he desires only to be blessed for his special relationship with Elijah. So, in making his request, Elisha is asking to be regarded as the genuine heir to Elijah’s prophetic power and spirit. God grants this request because Elisha has hope in the Lord and in Elijah’s heavenly father.