Daily Readings - Tue Jun 09 2020
1 Kings
7And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.8Then the word of the LORD came to him,9"Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you."10So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, "Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink."11And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, "Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand."12And she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die."13And Elijah said to her, "Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son.14For thus says the LORD the God of Israel, 'The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'"15And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days.16The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elijah.
Matthew
13"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.14"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.15Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to 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.