PLIGHT OF THE WEAKEST - A: 13th Sun in OrdTime

First Reading: 2 Kgs 4:8-11 (2 July 2023)

The narrative in our first reading today proceeds from Elisha’s miraculous multiplication of the oil, which he performed to help the widow of one of God’s prophets. She had approached Elisha with the request: “Your servant my husband is dead … but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves” (v. 1). In response, the prophet asked the woman to prepare empty vessels, into which she would pour oil (vv. 3-4). The oil she poured filled all the vessels she had bought, which were later sold to pay her debts so that her children would be spared from being taken as slaves.

Some days later, Elisha went to Shunem, where he met an influential woman who was childless. This woman offered him good food and accommodation (vv. 8-9), even building a guest room at the rooftop of her house which he could freely use anytime (vv. 10-11). In response to this generosity, Elisha prophesied that she would soon bear a son despite the fact that her husband was advanced of age (v. 14). Indeed, a child was born to her as promised (v. 17), but fell ill and died soon enough (vv. 19-20). She tried to summon the prophet through his servant Gehazi to plead her cause (v. 25ff.). Finally, Elisha decided to return to Shunem (v. 32) and prayed to the Lord for the healing of the boy (v. 33). After performing some gestures, the child was brought back to life (v. 35).

These two successive stories presented in 2 Kings 4 are among the many miracles performed by the prophet Elisha.

What is significant in both of them is that he gave importance and value to three neglected sectors of the society, viz., women, children, and slaves.

Women. Elisha listened to the prayers of two women who, in a patriarchal Jewish society, are practically helpless and dependent on their husbands or sons. The first woman was actually a widow while the second woman was married to an elderly man who might have been sickly for failing to sire her a child. Elisha knew well their predicament and listened to their pleas. The fact that the prophet spoke to them is a testament already to his counter-cultural stance of rendering them high regard.

Children. Elisha recognized that children fulfill the happiness of any mother. To the widow, he acted on her desperate attempt to keep her children from being taken from her side. To the Shunammite, he interceded to God that she be given a child and that this child would be returned back to life later. Elisha, then, saw the value of children to the family and to any household. For this reason, he made sure that they are always protected from harm at all costs.

Slaves. Elisha wished to abrogate slavery and didn’t support its commerce. Such was the case with the widow who had feared that her children would be sold to slavery. Elisha impeded its realization by helping her raise enough money to ransom her children. In his dealings with the Shunammite, Elisha employed his servant Gehazi to facilitate communication between them. It should be noted, though, that Elisha didn’t actually treat him as a normal slave since he would empower him to transact on his behalf. In fact, the prophet would allow him to be his envoy to the Syrian commander Naaman on his request to be healed from leprosy (cf. 2 Kings 5), albeit abusing this freedom and privilege that were freely given to him (vv. 20-27). In the end, nevertheless, this servant would testify to the king the great things that Elisha had done in his lifetime (8:4), affirming the prophet’s magnanimity and kindness even to slaves.

Women, children, and slaves (i.e., helpers and low-income laborers) are still undervalued and even abused in our society today. Elisha already valued them and fought for them more than two millennia ago. May we continue to protect their rights and work for their emancipation in our society.

• Rex Fortes, CM