Elisha, the leper of Engedi
This son of Abraham, the synagogue leader of Engedi becomes leprous: a horrible specter, a skeleton, half naked, ravaged by leprosy. His mother, Colombe, became blind and sank into senility under the weight of pain. She will be healed by Jesus.[3]
When Jesus leaves Engedi, his father Abraham pleads with him to heal Elisha:"You have already cured my wife… but will You not have mercy on the fruit of her womb?… A son to a mother! Give back a son to his mother, You, the perfect Son of the Mother of all graces! In the name of Your Mother have mercy on me, on us!…"[4]Jesus comforts him:
"Do not weep anymore! Let us go to your Elisha. Your faith, justice and hope deserve that and much more. Do not weep, father! Do not let us delay any longer from freeing a man from such horror."[4]After healing Elisha, Jesus asks him:
"preach the Lord, because you belong to Him. Remember that God loved you so that you might be a good Israelite and a good son. Get married and bring your children up for the Lord. [...] Bless the Lord and be happy!"[5]
Apostolic journey
Elisha, after the Passion of the Lord, will obey his invitation to preach:"Dismiss me, father, because I am leaving all my wealth in order to preach the Lord. I will go to Capernaum to look for John, and I will join the faithful disciples"[6]On Mount Tabor, after the resurrection of Jesus, Elisha is no longer skeletal:
"Now he is a buxom man in the prime of life".[7]Following the death of his father in Jesus' very arms, he will have no further ties. Jesus will join him to the group of the seventy-two disciples saying to them:
"Here is a new companion. Love him, because I took him from his sepulchre, so that he may serve Me."[7]
Elisha is present at one of the very first Christian gatherings, in the days immediately following Pentecost. Peter preaches the Word there and celebrates the Eucharist.[8]
His name
Elisha (Èlisha) means "God is Salvation" - Referring to the great prophet successor of Elijah.
Where is he mentioned in the work?
GRM 390 GRM 391
GRM 632 GRM 634 GRM 635 GRM 641