Daily Readings - Tue Jun 07 2022
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 first reading from 1 Kings tells the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. During a time of severe drought, Elijah is sent by God to this widow, who is on the brink of starvation along with her son. Though she has only a small amount of flour and oil left, Elijah assures her that if she shares what little she has, God will provide for her needs. Trusting in Elijah’s words, she bakes bread for him first, and miraculously, her supplies never run out. This story highlights God’s providence and the importance of faith and generosity, even in the face of scarcity.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us that we are called to be “salt of the earth” and “light of the world.” Just as salt enhances flavor and light illuminates darkness, our lives should have a transformative impact on the world around us. Jesus warns that if we fail to live out our faith authentically, we risk losing our purpose. He encourages us to let our “light shine before others” so that they may see our good works and glorify God. This teaching reminds us that our faith is not meant to be hidden but lived out boldly and visibly.
Both readings invite us to reflect on how we trust in God’s providence and live out our faith in a way that makes a difference. Like the widow, we are called to trust God even when resources seem scarce and to share what we have with others. Like salt and light, we are called to bring flavor and illumination to the world around us through our actions and choices. Let us ask ourselves: Do we trust God enough to step out in faith, even when it feels risky? Are we living in a way that reflects the light of Christ to those around us? May we strive to be faithful stewards of God’s gifts and bold witnesses of His love in our daily lives.