Daily Readings - Tue Jun 07 2022
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 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.