A New Testament echo of an Old Testament story

In the Season of Ordinary Time, the Revised Common Lectionary frequently offers two options for the day’s first reading.  This week the primary lesson is 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14, which is the narrative of the departure of Elijah.  The alternate reading is 1 Kings 19:19-21, which includes:

So he set out from there, and found Elisha son of Shaphat, who was ploughing. There were twelve yoke of oxen ahead of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle over him. He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, ‘Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.’ Then Elijah said to him, ‘Go back again; for what have I done to you?’ He returned from following him, took the yoke of oxen, and slaughtered them; using the equipment from the oxen, he boiled their flesh, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out and followed Elijah, and became his servant.

Now, admittedly there is not a lot of sizzle and pop here.  But what I find notable is that this reading finds a reflection in the Gospel verses for the day.  These include, in part, Luke 9:61-62, which reads:

Another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.’ Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’

Now, there is a LOT going on here, and I don’t pretend to plumb the depths of it all in this one post.  But I find it intriguing that we have two very similar call stories, with two similar responses from those called, and yet the “main characters” – Elijah and Jesus – respond in very different ways.  Elijah feigns disinterest.  Jesus puts the whole event in terms of worthiness for the Kingdom of God.

One observation is that in the new way of doing things that Jesus ushers in, there is no room for indifference.  Jesus indicates that evaluation may be harsher in this new way of doing things.  As Jesus takes Old Testament verses and intensifies them in the Sermon on the Mount (You have heard it said by men of old… but I say to you…), so he does here with a person’s call to discipleship.

It is worth noting that, in Jesus’ eyes, Old Testament-based behavior is no longer enough.  Jesus does not refer here to laws or rules or regulations.  He speaks of behavior.  He speaks of behavior, and his Kingdom expectations of those who would follow him.