10TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

The jar of flour shall not go empty. 

How would you like to have a jar of flour that never runs out? Or a self-replenishing jug of oil? Imagine all the baking you could do—and the money you would save! For Elijah and the widow who helped him, the stakes were considerably higher than cost savings and convenience. Their lives were on the line! And God came through for them in a truly miraculous way.

But the miracle itself is not the main focus of this story. Rather, it’s the faith that Elijah and the widow had. It was faith that made Elijah follow God’s command to go to Zarephath, which was pagan territory. It was faith that made him approach this widow, herself a pagan, and make a promise in the name of the God of Israel. And it was faith that moved the woman to offer Elijah the last of her food. Through their faith, Elijah and the widow were able to support each other—Elijah as a prophet in hiding and the widow as a poor and neglected member of her community. And through their faith, they saw God work wonders.

Most likely your kitchen will never be blessed with an endless supply of food. But can you think of a time when you faced a desperate situation and asked God for his help? Did someone then come to your aid? Maybe it was a friend who gave you a job lead after a long period of unemployment. Maybe it was a neighbor who drove you to the hospital during an emergency. Or maybe a fellow parishioner offered to pray with you for healing. Whatever the situation, God used the faith and generosity of another person to reach out and lift you up.

God still performs miracles today, and sometimes he uses his people to bring them about. In fact, he may be inviting you to join him in his work. By reaching out to someone in need and giving a little extra even when you feel like you can’t, you just may be the miracle that person is looking for. And who knows? Maybe, like the widow of Zarephath, you’ll see a miracle unfold in your life as well!

“Thank you, Lord, for the ‘miracle workers’ you have sent to me. Give me the grace to go and do likewise.”

Psalm 4:2-5, 7-8
Matthew 5:13-16
1 Kings 17:7-16