Sermon Tone Analysis

Title

The True Prophet

Outline

The scribes devour widows’ houses, but the godly widow gives all she has to the Lord

This is a strange saying, but true

I have known clerics of various denominations who seemed to be about fine vestments and furnishings and of finer churches - and perhaps about their retirement funds and an appropriate house

I have known widows and others who were giving their all to God and did not pay attention to the questionable motives of those taking up the collection

But today we meet a true prophet, a true man of God

Elijah had spoken the word of God, a word of judgment and was in hiding

God had instructed him to hide in the Wadi Cherith, where he was out of sight with no signs of livelihood for prying eyes to see

Now, with the drought drying up the brook in the wadi, God sent him to Zarephath, pagan land outside of Israel

As he approaches the gate of the town, he sees a widow gathering small pieces of firewood.

Elijah asks for hospitality - water from the town well - and she responds with appropriate piety.

He then asks for a bit of bread as well.

Then he gets the story.

The widow recognizes him as an Israelite and so swears by YHWH his God that all she had was the makings of a tiny last meal for her and her small son - then they would die

Elijah is a true prophet who gives rather than takes, so says, “Do not fear - but first make a tiny cake for me - and then there will be enough for you and your son.

The flour and oil will not run out until YHWH sends rain.”

Presumably God had given him this message either on the spot or along the way.

She obeys - takes the risk we call faith - and precisely what Elijah says happened.

And in other ways as well he brings life to that woman and later he would bring life to the remaining Israelites.

He asked for nothing for his services, for he was a true prophet.

What does this strange story say to us, Sisters?

First, the true servant of God trusts God for their needs and therefore can be focused on giving to others.

Such are the oppose of the scribes who exploit those they can and are concerned for themselves.

Second, God is concerned about the least.

He sent Elijah across Israel to pagan lands to care for one widow who was close to death, a woman who seems to have had just a glimmer of faith.

May God give us eyes to see such folk and ears to hear the call of God.

Third, the key feature in both widows in our readings are they they gave all they had.

It was in that place of vulnerability that God met them; we know how he viewed the one widow and how he cared for the other.

We may enjoy fine buildings and beautiful vestments and the like, but if we hear these readings we will neither grasp them nor seek them, but only welcome them as God gives them, for our hearts and minds are on those to whom we can give rather than on what we have, for we know that in giving we give to God.

Readings

FIRST READING

1 Kings 17:10–16

10 He arose and went to Zarephath.

When he arrived at the entrance of the city, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called out to her, “Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink.”

11 She left to get it, and he called out after her, “Please bring along a crust of bread.” 12 She said, “As the LORD, your God, lives, I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar and a little oil in my jug.

Just now I was collecting a few sticks, to go in and prepare something for myself and my son; when we have eaten it, we shall die.” 13 Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid.

Go and do as you have said.

But first make me a little cake and bring it to me.

Afterwards you can prepare something for yourself and your son.

14 For the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 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.”

15 She left and did as Elijah had said.

She had enough to eat for a long time—he and she and her household.

16 The jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, according to the word of the LORD spoken through Elijah.

RESPONSE

Psalm 146:1b

1 Hallelujah!

PSALM

Psalm 146:7–10

7 secures justice for the oppressed,

who gives bread to the hungry.

The LORD sets prisoners free;

8 the LORD gives sight to the blind.

The LORD raises up those who are bowed down;

the LORD loves the righteous.

9 The LORD protects the resident alien,

comes to the aid of the orphan and the widow,

but thwarts the way of the wicked.

10 The LORD shall reign forever,

your God, Zion, through all generations!

Hallelujah!

SECOND READING

Hebrews 9:24–28

24 For Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one, but heaven itself, that he might now appear before God on our behalf.

25 Not that he might offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary with blood that is not his own; 26 if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly from the foundation of the world.

But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages to take away sin by his sacrifice.

27 Just as it is appointed that human beings die once, and after this the judgment, 28 so also Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Matthew 5:3

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

GOSPEL

Option A

Mark 12:38–44

38 In the course of his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, 39 seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets.

40 They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers.

They will receive a very severe condemnation.”

41 He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury.

Many rich people put in large sums.

42 A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.

43 Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury.

44 For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.”

Notes

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2021 | ORDINARY TIME

THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

YEAR B | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading 1 Kings 17:10–16

Response Psalm 146:1b

Psalm Psalm 146:7–10

Second Reading Hebrews 9:24–28

Gospel Acclamation Matthew 5:3

Gospel Mark 12:38–44 or Mark 12:41–44