“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.”
Do you think that this woman was aware of God’s promise?
We can’t say for certain, but we can imagine that God’s promise was the last thing on her mind. She was a widow, with a son, in the middle of a devastating drought. Her cupboard was bare, save for a little flour and oil.
So here comes Elijah —“ a prophet of God. Here’s his request. Woman, go get me water, and bread. Do not be afraid,
But first make me a little cake and bring it to me.
Elijah asks the woman to take care of God’s prophet first.
Can you imagine if a member of the clergy said that to someone today? Woman, make me some bread and bring me a drink. But father, deacon, here are all my problems. I know child, do not be afraid. Just get me the bread and a drink…
I do not think anyone would be afraid. They would be angry. Very angry! They would see to it that the clergyman never darkened their doorway again.
You know, that person, so offended by our clergyman, would be just like you and me, their faith would be weak.
The clergyman’s job, like Elijah’s job, is to say those important words —“ do not be afraid. We are to say it to you in the midst of the most devastating losses, in times of great sorrow, and in times of joy, those times where our ever present fears are more muted —“ but still active.
The woman of Zarephath had something —“ something many lack. She had blind faith. She may not have been aware of God’s promise, but when the prophet came and told her to set aside her fears, to give up the little she had left, she listened and acted.
The woman of Zarephath understood that God’s promise was worth everything she had, down to her last meager ration.
The woman in the Gospel had that blind faith. She followed the prescripts of the Law and the words of the prophets’ —“ but more than that, she allowed herself to be overcome by God. She gave up everything on the simple promise of hope.
Jesus certainly saw that:
“Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more
than all the other contributors to the treasury.
He wasn’t talking about charity. The coins meant nothing —“ a few cents, no value. What Jesus points out is that she put her faith first, above everything else.
The two women we read about today gave everything they had based on faith and out of hope. Not hope in a miracle, faith in a god of the dice —“ but hope and faith in God.
They took action based on what they had heard. The teachings of the prophets and the Law transformed their hopelessness into confidence, confidence in God.
What will you do with what you have heard? What will you do with our clergyman who comes to you in your despair and says to you, “Do not be afraid—?
These two women who were at the end of their ropes, who acted on blind faith, who only had the Law and the prophets, are but a shadow of what is required of us.
Before us we have the body and blood of God. Before us we have the words of Jesus Christ. God came among us and remains right here, with us, body, blood, soul, and divinity. Of Him the letter to the Hebrews states:
Just as it is appointed that human beings die once,
and after this the judgment, so also Christ,
offered once to take away the sins of many,
will appear a second time, not to take away sin
but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.
Our sins have been washed away in His blood. We eagerly await Him and call for His return. We do not have a promise in Law, but the promise of God Himself.
What more do we need?
We are more than aware of God’s promise. It is written in His blood and made evident by His resurrection. Allow yourselves to be blinded by faith, to give, even from your want, based on His assurance alone. Give all that you have for God’s promise.
Take action based on what you have heard – from God Himself.