Most people save stuff. We are pack rats. We save clothes that haven’t fit for years. We save computer files we may never look at again. When we run out of closets at home, we rent additional space to store things.

Once in a while we have a garage sale to think down our possessions. But we rarely hear of anyone getting rid of everything in order to start over again.

When Elisha agreed to follow Elijah as his attendant, he left his livelihood as a farmer. He broke up the yoke he steered for plowing and used it to fuel a fire. He slaughtered his oxen and used the fire to boil their flesh. He served the flesh to his people to eat. Elisha left nothing behind.

To be a follower of Christ, we must be prepared to travel light. Our possessions may distract us from keeping Christ as the center of our being. We may also be distracted by too many interests, too many commitments, too much food or too much play. When Elisha decided to follow Elijah, he broke up, burned up and cooked up everything he owned. When we decide to follow Christ, we will leave some things behind.

It won’t feel right at first. It is hard to let go of the things of our past. We are pack rats. But the future is glorious if Christ is all we own.

Written by Paul Turner. Liturgy Training Publications
Copyright 2003, Archdiocese of Chicago