Please read this passage before reading the homily
Two prophets, Elijah and Elisha, shared ministry in the Northern Kingdom. They had similar names, Elijah meaning “The Lord is my God”, and Elisha meaning “My God saves.” The names are similar and their pronunciation likewise, eeLIza and eeLIsha, such that only the j and the sha distinguish the one from the other.
Most of the two Books of Kings criticizes adversely the northern kingdom of Israel for following the example of its first king who “taught them how to sin.” The attitude towards the southern kingdom is that God took it easy with it for the sake of God’s servant David.
The Elijah-Elisha cycle takes place only in the northern kingdom and reflects well on the work of the two prophets. Like a tag-team match in wrestling or like a relay team in track, Elijah handed over to Elisha the work of the prophets. Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind of fire and Elisha inherited the cloak and power of his master.
There was a third prophet, or, rather, a group of prophets, called the guild prophets. They functioned somewhat like a school of prophets or as students of Elijah and Elisha. The guild prophets seemed rather slow in comprehending the words and actions of Elijah and Elisha.
If our religious leaders stand before us like Elijah and Elisha, then how do we, their guild prophets, learn from them?