Tuesday of Week 10 in Ordinary Time
First Reading
1 Kings 17:7–16
The stream in the place where Elijah lay hidden dried up, for the country had no rain.
And then the word of the Lord came to Elijah,
‘Up and go to Zarephath, a Sidonian town, and stay there. I have ordered a widow there to give you food.’
So he went off to Sidon.
And when he reached the city gate, there was a widow gathering sticks; addressing her he said,
‘Please bring me a little water in a vessel for me to drink.’
She was setting off to bring it when he called after her.
‘Please bring me a scrap of bread in your hand.’
‘As the Lord your God lives,’ she replied ‘I have no baked bread, but only a handful of meal in a jar and a little oil in a jug; I am just gathering a stick or two to go and prepare this for myself and my son to eat, and then we shall die.’
But Elijah said to her,
‘Do not be afraid, go and do as you have said; but first make a little scone of it for me and bring it to me, and then make some for yourself and for your son.
For thus the Lord speaks, the God of Israel:
"Jar of meal shall not be spent,
jug of oil shall not be emptied,
before the day when the Lord sends
rain on the face of the earth."’
The woman went and did as Elijah told her and they ate the food, she, himself and her son.
The jar of meal was not spent nor the jug of oil emptied, just as the Lord had foretold through Elijah.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 4:2–5,7–8
Lord, let your face shine on us.
When I call, answer me, O God of justice;
from anguish you released me, have mercy and hear me!
O men, how long will your hearts be closed,
will you love what is futile and seek what is false?
Lord, let your face shine on us.
It is the Lord who grants favours to those whom he loves;
the Lord hears me whenever I call him.
Fear him; do not sin: ponder on your bed and be still.
Lord, let your face shine on us.
‘What can bring us happiness?’ many say.
Lift up the light of your face on us, O Lord.
You have put into my heart a greater joy
than they have from abundance of corn and new wine.
Lord, let your face shine on us.
Gospel
Matthew 5:13–16
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘You are the salt of the earth.
But if salt becomes tasteless, what can make it salty again?
It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled underfoot by men.
You are the light of the world.
A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden.
No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house.
In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.’
Reflection
Today's readings reveal a profound truth about faith:
God often works most powerfully when human resources appear exhausted.
The widow of Zarephath is facing the end.
She has reached the point where she believes there is nothing left.
One final meal.
One final day.
One final hope.
Yet God enters precisely at that moment.
The Lord sends Elijah not to a wealthy household, but to a poor widow.
Not to someone with abundance, but to someone with almost nothing.
This is often God's way.
The Lord delights in revealing that His power is not limited by our circumstances.
The widow's miracle begins with a command that seems impossible:
"Do not be afraid."
Fear tells her to hold tightly to what little remains.
Faith invites her to trust.
She obeys.
And God's promise proves true.
The Catechism teaches that faith is a personal adherence to God and a free assent to all that He has revealed (CCC 150). The widow demonstrates exactly this kind of faith. She entrusts herself to God's word before she sees the result.
The miracle follows obedience.
The Psalm echoes the same lesson.
Many ask, "What can bring us happiness?"
The world answers with wealth, comfort, success, and security.
The Psalmist answers differently:
"Lift up the light of your face on us, O Lord."
True joy comes from God's presence.
The Gospel then challenges us to become witnesses of that truth.
Jesus calls His disciples salt and light.
Salt preserves what is good.
Light drives away darkness.
Notice that Jesus does not say, "Try to become salt."
He says, "You are the salt of the earth."
He does not say, "You may become light."
He says, "You are the light of the world."
Through Baptism, Christians share in Christ's mission and are called to bear witness before the world (CCC 1213, 1241).
The widow became a witness through trust.
We become witnesses through faithful living.
Every act of kindness.
Every decision rooted in truth.
Every moment of forgiveness.
Every sacrifice offered in love.
These become lights that point others toward God.
The world does not need hidden disciples.
It needs Christians whose lives reveal the goodness of the Father.
One line to carry
Lord, help me trust Your provision and let my faith shine before others.
No comments:
Post a Comment