Daily Readings - Tue Jun 07 2022
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 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.