Reading between the lines: God told Elijah she told a widow to provide for him. That conversation is missing. The widow seems surprised by his demand, not request. Why would she do such a thing? Feed a stranger before her child? How do we tell the story in a world where some shepherds fleece their flock? The psalm reminds us not to trust in any human person [that would mean not even prophets]. Trust in the God who provides for orphan and widow. Does not God provide through other people? The epistle tells us to put our faith in action. We will be known by what we do. The gospel ties these threads together. Jesus is the liberating God who provides for widows and orphans in the flesh. And his gospel of love calls his followers to love in and through their actions.
nick utphall
February 9, 2023 12:59 pma Prayer of the Day (collect) written by our intern, Samuel Christensen, for the day:
God of the margins, corners and edges:
guide us to live in charity and steadfast love; dwell with us.
Turn us back from ourselves to our neighbors and you.
Open our hearts to see the world as you do,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen