Fear of the unknown, of what might happen to us is often what prevents us from fully living in the grace and mercy of our most loving, merciful and generous Lord. So what do we do? We hoard for ourselves and for our family disregarding the needs of those of our brethren in need. We keep our gifts and talents only for those who employ us. Why should we waste time with church work unless there is a tax deduction of sorts. Why risk losing face in doing something out of my comfort zone for the Church?Are we then living a pseudo Christian identity and returning to a semblance of faith when encountering difficult, trying moments in our lives? How then are we witnesses to the love of God our Father who sent His only Begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ; to save us from sin so that we might have life to the full in Him? Do we not realise that all we have even the comforts we now experience comes from the Lord our God?Lord Jesus heal our hearts, restore in us what was lost through our sinfulness and self centredness. Grant us the grace to be powerful witnesses to Your love and that Your glory will shine brightly in the sight of all who look upon us. Amen
First reading
1 Kings 17:7-16 ·
The widow gives food to Elijah, and is fedThe 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’ he said ‘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.
Gospel
Matthew 5:13-16
Your light must shine in the sight of menJesus 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.’
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