Simplicity in Words and in Acts


SATURDAY, TENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Reflection from Friar Nicholas Okeke, OP 

1 Kings 19:19-21; Ps 16:1-2,5,7-10; Mt 5:33-37

Called to imitate God's Simplicity

Prophet Elijah recruited Elisha as his successor as God directed him. The first reading presents us with the simple but symbolic actions of both the prophet Elijah and Elisha. The first thing we want to comment on is the encompassing knowledge of God. God knew the personality of Elisha; he prepared and chose him to succeed Elijah. Thus, none of us need to think that his thoughts and personality are hidden from Yahweh. He knew us even before we were conceived and brought to birth, as witnessed by Psalm 139. This foreknowledge of God played out in the simple formal ceremony of the vocation of Elisha. We called it formal because even the farm work he was doing was already part of his vocation, preparing him for his vocation as a prophet.

In the same way, we are all called for a purpose which the Lord reveals to us at the opportune moment. But before the revelation of his expressed will for us, we must never think that the will of God is not at play in our present occupation or preoccupation, as much as we are attentive to his word and follow the inspirations he sends to us daily. So, as people he called to be his own, we should aim to keep his word and follow his inspirations. His word comes in various guises to instruct us. If we fail to receive and keep his word, the chances are that we may fail to follow his inspirations when they come. Humility of heart and simplicity of life are important virtues that prepare us to follow God’s will.

Elisha’s occupation and preoccupation illustrate these virtues for us. “Elijah came on Elisha son of Shaphat as he was ploughing behind twelve yoke of oxen, he being with the twelfth. Elijah passed near to him and threw his cloak over him.” This is a formal expression of one’s intention to possess a slave, acquire an apprentice, or marry a maiden. Elisha understood that he was to be the apprentice of Elijah. Thus, he asked leave of him to kiss his father and mother goodbye. Since he was under his parent till then, God’s demand for him has greater authority over him. No word was spoken, but Elisha understood the gesture as a formal way of saying follow me. God communicates his will clearly to a humble and simple heart, to which he responds humbly and simply without confusion. Elisha’s response to the divine call through the prophet Elijah was simple and immediate. “Elisha turned away, took the pair of oxen, and slaughtered them. He used the plough for cooking the oxen, then gave to his men, who ate. He then rose, and followed Elijah and became his servant.” There were twelve yokes of oxen. He slaughtered two and ate with his men. The two were probably his own, while the rest belonged to his father. He formally ended his apprenticeship with his father to begin another with Elijah. He heard and understood the word of God and responded simply with total commitment.

This is the virtue that our Lord recommends to us in the gospel. He wants us to imitate the simplicity of God, who communicates his word simply to us without prevarication. As we have mentioned, God is a covenant-making God because his word is true and everlasting. God commits himself with his word that can never change. Lord invites us to imitate the simplicity of God as we grow in his knowledge. The Lord tells us there is no need to swear an oath, but we should rather make our words our oath. “Do not swear by your own head either, since you cannot turn a single hair white or black. All you need say is “Yes” if you mean yes, “No” if you mean no; anything more than this comes from the evil one.” The reason we should never swear is that we have no power over anything less than the word coming from within us representing our conviction; we are to be true to that conviction. This is what humility means:  a true knowledge of self; and simplicity means: the expression of our true self with conviction. If we cultivate and maintain these virtues, we are truly born of God.

Let us pray: Grant us, Lord, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to imitate her deep humility and her virginal simplicity, so that we may truly be her children, born in the likeness of your only Begotten Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 

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