Hearth & Altar

Do not be afraid. The widow is preparing what she believes is the last meal for herself and her son. She is not exaggerating - she has a handful of flour and a little oil, and when these are gone they will die. And Elijah asks her to make him a cake first. Give to me from the last you have, before you feed yourself. It is the logic of the first-fruits: the giving from the last rather than the surplus, and the promise that the jar will not empty and the jug will not run dry.

She went and did as Elijah said. That sentence is the whole of her faith. She did not argue or explain or delay. She went and did. And the jar did not go empty, and the jug did not run dry.

You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. Jesus says both of these to his disciples before they have done anything impressive. The declaration precedes the instruction. You are already salt and light - the question is whether the salt maintains its taste and the light is placed where it illuminates.

• For our family, that we would give from the last before the surplus - the first-fruits logic that produces the miracle, we pray to the Lord.
• For those who feel they are preparing the last meal, that do not be afraid would reach them before the flour runs out, we pray to the Lord.
• For households that are salt and light in their neighborhoods, that the taste would not be lost and the lamp would not be hidden, we pray to the Lord.
• In this Sacred Heart month, for the heart that declared us light of the world before we had done anything to deserve it, we pray to the Lord.

Let your light shine before others so they may see your good works and glorify your Father. Name one good work this week that can be done visibly rather than hidden - not performed for recognition but not hidden either. The light is for others to see. Let it be seen.

She went and did as Elijah said. That sentence is the whole of her faith - no argument, no delay, just the going and doing. When you ask your children to do something hard on the basis of your word alone, and they go and do it, they are practicing the exact faith the widow demonstrates. Tell them so.