How can you be life-giving for our world?
In the First Book of Kings, the widow of Zarephath to whom God sends Elijah is destitute: there is only a little flour in my jar and a little oil in my jug, she tells him. A woman living alone with her son, the widow has no recourse; in a time of famine, the marginalized were the last to receive the community’s support. The desperation of her situation makes her dependent on the stranger in her midst, yet Elijah, in an extraordinary move, asks her to bring along a crust of bread, that he might eat. Because she trusts and cooperates, she is rewarded; she allows herself to be dependent on the Lord, the God of Elijah, who promises, 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. As Psalm 146 proclaims, The Lord secures justice for the oppressed, and gives food to the hungry. The Lord is merciful to all who have great need, but we too must play a role: there is no justice for the oppressed unless we stand up for justice for them – this is God’s work in us.
Nine hundred years later, Jesus’ community is still struggled to secure justice for the oppressed. Speaking, in Mark’s Gospel, of the scribes, Jesus says, They devour the houses of widows, consuming the little people have and condemning the marginalized, those who live on the periphery of society. Jesus knows that the widow who puts two small coins into the treasury has put in more than all the other contributors. She gives everything she has without considering the cost to herself, trusting in the mercy of God, confident that God will take care of her, and Jesus wants to secure justice for her as well.
God has always been concerned on behalf of God’s people. The Book of Hebrews reminds us that Christ appears before God on our behalf, making it possible to live as if death is not a barrier. Jesus came and will come again to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him; he will be particularly attentive to those who, like the widow, contribute from their poverty, trusting in God’s promise of salvation. Our job is to serve our world in any way we can; we must take responsibility for the people of our community, and secure justice for all who are in need, all who are marginalized, allowing the Lord to work through us, that all might have what they need.
This post is based on Fr. Pat’s Scripture class.
Image source: www.wordclouds.com
Nine hundred years later, Jesus’ community is still struggled to secure justice for the oppressed. Speaking, in Mark’s Gospel, of the scribes, Jesus says, They devour the houses of widows, consuming the little people have and condemning the marginalized, those who live on the periphery of society. Jesus knows that the widow who puts two small coins into the treasury has put in more than all the other contributors. She gives everything she has without considering the cost to herself, trusting in the mercy of God, confident that God will take care of her, and Jesus wants to secure justice for her as well.
God has always been concerned on behalf of God’s people. The Book of Hebrews reminds us that Christ appears before God on our behalf, making it possible to live as if death is not a barrier. Jesus came and will come again to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him; he will be particularly attentive to those who, like the widow, contribute from their poverty, trusting in God’s promise of salvation. Our job is to serve our world in any way we can; we must take responsibility for the people of our community, and secure justice for all who are in need, all who are marginalized, allowing the Lord to work through us, that all might have what they need.
This post is based on Fr. Pat’s Scripture class.
Image source: www.wordclouds.com
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