April 12th - Reflection

2 Kings 4:18-37 (NRSV)
Elisha raises a child from death

When the man of God saw her coming, he said to Gehazi his servant, "Look, there is the Shunammite woman; run at once to meet her, and say to her, Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is the child all right?" She answered, "It is all right." When she came to the man of God at the mountain, she caught hold of his feet. Gehazi approached to push her away. But the man of God said, "Let her alone, for she is in bitter distress; the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me." Then she said, "Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not say, Do not mislead me?" He said to Gehazi, "Gird up your loins, and take my staff in your hand, and go. If you meet anyone, give no greeting, and if anyone greets you, do not answer; and lay my staff on the face of the child." Then the mother of the child said, "As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave without you." So he rose up and followed her. Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the face of the child, but there was no sound or sign of life. He came back to meet him and told him, "The child has not awakened."

When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bed. So he went in and closed the door on the two of them, and prayed to the Lord. Then he got up on the bed and lay upon the child, putting his mouth upon his mouth, his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands; and while he lay bent over him, the flesh of the child became warm. He got down, walked once to and fro in the room, then got up again and bent over him; the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. Elisha summoned Gehazi and said, "Call the Shunammite woman." So he called her. When she came to him, he said, "Take your son." She came and fell at his feet, bowing to the ground; then she took her son and left.

Reflection
A child had died to a faithful women of God. It didn't seem fair or right. But a child had died. Something that is never lived down is the death of a child. It's the mourning of a lifetime. God once again works through Elisha to bring life from death. Just as God brought life from death through Elijah, God brought life from death through Moses, through Abraham, through Jesus and through his Word. God brings, in some cases, physical life from death, and in other cases, spiritual life from death, and in other times, both physical and spiritual life from death.

God is all about life from death. God wants creation and his children to live. We were created to live abundant life. We were given the faith to believe in Jesus and receive freely life from death. As we believe we are gifted to proclaim to those God gives to us through word and action this life giving grace God freely provides. We are given purpose in this life in the here and now and sent as disciples of Jesus to proclaim this life from death gospel that is available to all throughout our world.

Speak of your life from death and let the Spirit move that conversation along. Bring that sound of life to your lips when there was no sound and rejoice in the Lord. Again, I will say...rejoice!

Prayer
Lord, you call us to respond with our story of life from death. How you have brought us to life from death. You call us to tell of the story you have recorded for us through the Word in Scripture. Both are alive and well and just enough for your Spirit to move another from life to death. Use me this day as I follow Jesus. --- AmenWhen the child was older, he went out one day to his father among the reapers. He complained to his father, "Oh, my head, my head!" The father said to his servant, "Carry him to his mother." He carried him and brought him to his mother; the child sat on her lap until noon, and he died. She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, closed the door on him, and left. Then she called to her husband, and said, "Send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, so that I may quickly go to the man of God and come back again." He said, "Why go to him today? It is neither new moon nor sabbath." She said, "It will be all right." Then she saddled the donkey and said to her servant, "Urge the animal on; do not hold back for me unless I tell you." So she set out, and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel.