June 19th, 2004, Wednesday of the 11th week in ordinary time.

A reading from the second book of kings.

When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, he and Alicia were on their

way from Gilgall.

Elijah said to Alicia,

please stay here.

The Lord has sent me on to the Jordan.

As the Lord lives and as you yourself live,

I will not leave you, Alicia replied.

And so the two went on together.

Fifty of the Gild prophets followed, and when the two stopped at the Jordan,

they stood facing them at a distance. Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water, which divided, and both crossed over on dry ground. When they had crossed over,

Elijah said to Elisha, ask for whatever I may do for you before I am taken from you.

Elisha answered, may I receive a double portion of your spirit?

You have asked something that is not easy, Elijah replied.

Still, if you see me taken up from you, your wish will be granted.

Otherwise, not.

As they walked on conversing, a flaming chariot and flaming horses came between them,

and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. When Elisha saw it happen, he cried out,

My father, my father, Israel's chariots and drivers. But when he could no longer see him,

Elisha gripped his own garment and tore it in two. Then he picked up Elijah's mantle that had fallen

from him and went back and stood at the bank of the Jordan, wielding the mantle that had fallen from him, and went back and stood at the bank of the Jordan.

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