Reading 1 1 Kgs 17:7-16
because no rain had fallen in the land.
So the LORD said to Elijah:
“Move on to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there.
I have designated a widow there to provide for you.”
He left and went to Zarephath.
As he arrived at the entrance of the city,
a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her,
“Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink.”
She left to get it, and he called out after her,
“Please bring along a bit of bread.”
She answered, “As the LORD, your God, lives,
I have nothing baked;
there is only a handful of flour in my jar
and a little oil in my jug.
Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks,
to go in and prepare something for myself and my son;
when we have eaten it, we shall die.”
Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid.
Go and do as you propose.
But first make me a little cake and bring it to me.
Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son.
For the LORD, the God of Israel, says,
‘The jar of flour shall not go empty,
nor the jug of oil run dry,
until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.’”
She left and did as Elijah had said.
She was able to eat for a year, and Elijah and her son as well;
the jar of flour did not go empty,
nor the jug of oil run dry,
as the LORD had foretold through Elijah.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 4:2-3, 4-5, 7b-8
When I call, answer me, O my just God,
you who relieve me when I am in distress;
Have pity on me, and hear my prayer!
Men of rank, how long will you be dull of heart?
Why do you love what is vain and seek after falsehood?
R. Lord, let your face shine on us.
Know that the LORD does wonders for his faithful one;
the LORD will hear me when I call upon him.
Tremble, and sin not;
reflect, upon your beds, in silence.
R. Lord, let your face shine on us.
O LORD, let the light of your countenance shine upon us!
You put gladness into my heart,
more than when grain and wine abound.
R. Lord, let your face shine on us.
Alleluia Mt 5:16
Let your light shine before others
that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mt 5:13-16
Jesus said to his disciples:“You are the salt of the earth.
But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?
It is no longer good for anything
but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world.
A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;
it is set on a lampstand,
where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your heavenly Father.”
"YOU CAN'T OUT-GIVE GOD"
"I have designated a widow there to provide for you." –1 Kings 17:9
The Lord designated a widow to provide for Elijah during a famine. The Lord chose someone to provide for Elijah who was so poor that she and her son were about to die of starvation (1 Kgs 17:12). The Lord continues to designate people to provide for His Church, His poor, and all of His other ministries. Also, the Lord continues to designate not only rich people to fund His Church but also very poor people.
These poor people don't see how they can support the Church because they have almost nothing. However, if they give their "almost nothing" – all that they have "to live on" (Lk 21:4) – the Lord will miraculously multiply their flour, oil (see 1 Kgs 17:14), pennies and dollars, and loaves and fish to provide not only for the Church but for themselves. Consequently, the poor are fed not just by receiving but by giving.
We all are poor in various ways. To get help, we may need to give help to those the Lord has designated as our responsibility. "Give, and it shall be given to you" (Lk 6:38).
| PRAYER: | Father, You gave Your Son to save us. May I live and give accordingly. |
| PROMISE: | "Your light must shine before men so that they may see goodness in your acts and give praise to your heavenly Father." –Mt 5:16 |
| PRAISE: | Robert gave gloves to a neighbor without any and the neighbor asked Robert if he could come to church with him. |
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