Daily Readings - Tue Jun 09 2020
1 Kings
7But after some days, the torrent dried up. For it had not rained upon the earth8Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying9"Rise up, and go to Zarephath of the Sidonians, and dwell there. For I have instructed a widowed woman there to feed you.10He rose up and went away to Zarephath. And when he had arrived at the gate of the city, he saw the widowed woman collecting wood, and he called to her. And he said to her, "Give me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink.11And as she was going to bring it, he called out after her, saying, "Bring me also, I beg you, a morsel of bread in your hand.12And she responded: "As the Lord your God lives, I have no bread, except a handful of flour in a jar, and a little oil in a bottle. See, I am collecting a couple of sticks, so that I may go in and make it for myself and my son, so that we may eat it and die.13And Elijah said to her: "Do not be afraid. But go and do as you have said. Yet truly, first make for me, from the same flour, a little bread baked under ashes, and bring it to me. Then afterward, make some for yourself and for your son14For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘The jar of flour will not fail, nor the bottle of oil be diminished, until the day when the Lord will grant rain upon the face of the earth.’ 15She went and acted in accord with the word of Elijah. And he ate, and she and her household ate. And from that day16the jar of flour did not fail, and the bottle of oil was not diminished, in accord with the word of the Lord, which he had spoken by the hand of Elijah
Matthew
13You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, with what will it be salted? It is no longer useful at all, except to be cast out and trampled under by men14You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden15And they do not light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, so that it may shine to all who are in the house16So then, let your light shine in the sight of men, so that they may see your good works, and may glorify your Father, who is in heaven
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on trust in God’s providence and the call to live as witnesses of His love in the world. In the first reading, Elijah encounters a widow at Zarephath who, despite her own poverty and desperation, trusts in God’s promise and shares what little she has. Her act of faith is met with a miracle: the jar of flour and the bottle of oil do not run out, sustaining her and her son until the famine ends. This story reminds us that God often works through the simplest and most vulnerable among us, and that His provision is not limited by our own resources. The widow’s willingness to trust and give despite her own need is a powerful example of faith in action.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us that we are called to be “salt of the earth” and “light of the world.” Just as salt flavors and preserves, and light illuminates the darkness, our lives should have a transformative impact on the world around us. Jesus emphasizes that our good works should be visible to others, not for our own glory, but so that they may see God’s love at work in us and give Him glory. This teaching challenges us to live with intentionality, ensuring that our faith is not hidden but shared generously with others.
Together, these readings encourage us to trust in God’s providence, even in times of uncertainty, and to live as His witnesses in the world. Like the widow, we are called to share what we have, whether it is material, spiritual, or emotional, trusting that God will multiply it in ways we cannot see. And like the light on a lampstand, we are called to let our faith shine brightly, so that others may encounter God’s love through us. May we embrace these callings with courage and humility, knowing that our trust and witness can bring hope and life to a world in need.