Homily: Tenth Tuesday of Ordinary Time
Tenth Tuesday of Ordinary Time (Kings 17:7-16)
As we resume ordinary time, we have readings from the Book of Kings. These readings concern the Prophet Elijah. Elijah was one of the great prophets of the Old Testament. His miracles seem to preclude some of the miracles of Jesus. One of the signs Jesus performed was the multiplication of food or drink. Another sign was to resuscitate the dead. We see both in the story we read about Elijah. We don’t have the full story, but just the first part of the story in the section we read today.
Elijah is running from King Ahab’s wrath as we meet him in the readings today. He has predicted a drought in Israel, and it has come to pass. God tells Elijah to go into hiding in the wilderness. Finally, he comes into a small town named Zarephath. On the outskirts of the town, he meets a widow. He asks her for a cup of water and a bit of bread. The widow is starving so she says she cannot help. But she generously gives what she has. We are told that her jar of flour does not go empty as long as Elijah lives in her house. Her generosity seems to be rewarded.
But the rewards for her generosity turn out to be even greater than she could ever imagine. Her only son grows sick and stops breathing. She blames Elijah, but Elijah takes the child and lays him on his bed. Then he lies on top of him, and the child starts to breath again. Elijah resuscitates the child.
The story of the widow of Zarephath reminds us once again that our charity sometimes requires great trust. Usually, when we give to a charitable cause it is from our surplus wealth. We really don’t miss what we give away. If our charity is going to put our own wellbeing in jeopardy, we usually absolve ourselves.
Some of my older relatives have shared with me stories of the depression. They referred to these years as “hard times.” And the lesson they tried to impart to me was that the only way to make it through such times is to share what we have. The widow shared what little she had in turn the woman, Elijah and her son survived.
Reflection Questions:
- Have I ever given until it hurts? When and for what purpose?
- What was a hard time in my life? How did I make it through?
Dear Parishioners,
The fencing went up for our building project today. This means we are ready to start construction East of the church. Soon there will be a lot of activity. It should be a time of dirt, dust and noise around Sacred Heart this summer. Let’s pray all goes well.
The Secondhand Sale is collecting items to sell. It is not too late to get your precious items into the sale. Why not collect a box and stop by tomorrow? The money goes to pay off the pledge the rummage sale committee made towards one of our large stained-glass windows.
May Our Lady of Peace pray for our violent world and an end to gun violence.
Fr. Mark