Some people fall into the trap of believing that faith means not questioning, and if you question somehow your faith is lacking.
When Jesus proclaims "My God, my God why have you abandoned me?", some can mistake this for a cry of despair. It is actually a reference to Psalm 22 which ends with a proclamation of the greatness of God.
Today we see the transition from Elijah to Elisha. Elijah is taken up in the whirlwind; Elisha picks up his mantle and asks, "Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?"
He has just had the great father figure if his life taken away. He stands feeling alone and left with an overwhelming responsibility. Who would not question in a moment like this? But when he repeats the action of Elijah, he goes down and strikes the river with the mantle, it divides. God's answer is the answer he gave when originally ask who he was, he is the one who is present. The God who will remain with him. It is the answer we here in the gospel, Emmanuel. Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah? God is with us.
Questioning is natural, it is reflexive, particularly in hard times. Most important is that we look and listen for the answer. Will God always show his presence in the great way he shows it to Elisha? Probably not. But God will always be with us.
