Not Empty Or Dry

The brook near where Elijah was hiding ran dry, because no rain had fallen in the land. So the LORD said to Elijah: “Move on to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have designated a widow there to provide for you.” He left and went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the entrance of the city, a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her, “Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink.” 

She left to get it, and he called out after her, “Please bring along a bit of bread.” She answered, “As the LORD, your God, lives, I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar and a little oil in my jug. Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks, to go in and prepare something for myself and my son; when we have eaten it, we shall die.” 

Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid.  Go and do as you propose. But first make me a little cake and bring it to me. Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son. For the LORD, the God of Israel, says, ‘The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.’” 

She left and did as Elijah had said. She was able to eat for a year, and Elijah and her son as well; the jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, as the LORD had foretold through Elijah. (1 Kings 17:7-16)

This first reading reminds us of Jesus and his multiplication of the bread and fish.  Here the widow says she has only a handful of flour and a little oil.  Because of Elijah the jar never ran empty and the jug never ran dry.  Elijah also said “Do not be afraid.”  It appears 1 Kings and other Old Testament books served as a model for New Testament authors.

We are also to serve as models – for Jesus.   Consider the Gospel that reads: Jesus said to his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:13-16)

We are to be salt with taste and lamps that are lit.  Otherwise, according to Jesus, we are useless and to be thrown out and trampled.   Some warning!

We are to light the way for others – to be models of Christ-like behavior – through good deeds.  During these difficult times of coronavirus infections and needed precautions, let’s shine through acts of kindness and charity.   We also shine when we understand and respond to the pain of those suffering from neglect and the effects of prejudice and hatred.

Let's not be empty or dry.  We are not jars or jugs.   We are earthly vessels filled with the Holy Spirit that is always with us even when we hide that Spirit under a bushel basket of self doubt and fear.

Deacon David Pierce