Daily Readings - Tue Jun 09 2020
1 Kings
7And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.8And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,9Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.10So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.11And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.12And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.13And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.14For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.15And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.16And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.
Matthew
13Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which 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.