February 1st - Reflection

Reading
1 Kings 17:8-16 (NRSV)
The widow of Zarephath fed

Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, "Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there; for I have commanded a widow there to feed you." So he set out and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called to her and said, "Bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink." As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, "Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand." But she said, "As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die." Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord the God of Israel: The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth." She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days. The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.

Reflection
It still hasn't run out when I think of it. Jesus fed so many people. Jesus fed the people bread. Jesus fed the people broken bread. Jesus fed broken bread that never ran out. There were left overs.

God dropped manna from heaven to feed his people. Manna, the bread from heaven that never ran out. It still hasn't run out when I think of it.

The widow fed Elijah bread. Bread that never run out. It still hasn't run out when I think of it.

Each Sunday I see so many churches taking communion. I see bread and wine and the body and blood of Christ. It still hasn't run out when I think of it.

Jesus gave everything. Jesus gave his own life. It still hasn't run out when I think of it.

Likewise the widow gave everything. She had the faith God gave to her. And life for her never ran out. Maybe that's the story here. Give in faith everything you have in God's plan for your life. Give without fear. It still hasn't run out, when I think of it. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, forgive my selfish and hoarding desires and teach me to give in faith. For you grant a food and a life that never runs out. Thanks be to God! ---Amen