This always reminds me of a fairy-tale fable where the poor farmer shares his last meal with a stranger who turns out
to be an enchanted prince who then rewards the farmer for his generosity. I
suppose this story is just as surprising in that the widow is a foreigner who
owes no allegiance to the Jewish prophet Elijah. She has accepted the grim
reality that awaits her and her son and is convinced they both will die of
starvation. But in Elijah's "do not be afraid..." she hears something
to convince her that giving away the little she has will not simply hasten the
inevitable. While we are not facing starvation we do experience times of spiritual,
emotional or physical famine and resigned to our fate give up any hope that
help will come in time. A loss of employment, or health, or relationships or
struggling with more bills at the end of the month than income at the beginning
we find ourselves in need of the same
words, "Do not be afraid..." I'm not suggesting there is a magic pot
that won't run out of whatever it is we need but there is a place where courage
and strength to overcome can be found, a place where the cup is never empty and
the plate is always full and it is never too late to hope in the promise of
God. When we come to the table of grace, the meal of mercy, there is
refreshment for weary and weak souls that are replenished in the sharing.
Amen...
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