Elijah taken away from his disciple Elisha (II Kings 2:11 - 12)

 excerpt from MAXIMUS THE
CONFESSOR:

Selected Writings (1985) Paulist

Press CWS edited George C. Berthold

Commentary on the 'Our Father'

#4. . .and this is the

mystery which the great

Elijah clearly shows in

the actions which he

accomplished by way of

figure.  For during his

rapture he gives Elisha

his coat/cloak (that is,

mortification of the flesh

in which the magnificence

of the good moral order

is firmly grounded) as an ally

of the Spirit in the struggle

against any enemy force

and as a blow against the

unstable and flowing nature

figured by the Jordan so

that the disciple be not held

back from crossing over to 

the Holy Land by being

swamped in the mud and

slipperiness of the craving

for matter.  As for himself,

he (Elijah) advances toward

God free and uncontrolled by

any attachment to beings at

all, simple in his desire and

uncomplicated in his intention,

and makes his dwelling with the

One who is simple by nature

through general virtues

spiritually harnessed to each

other as fiery horses. . .

(Pages 108 - 109).