I have always loved the story of God's grace to the widow of Zarephath in 1 Kings 17. Her situation is so desperate that she tells Elijah that she can't fix him even a small loaf of bread; she has just enough for herself and her son. It is their "last supper," so to speak. But then, the Word of the Lord comes to her and God promises: The jar of flour shall not be spent and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.
The widow trusted God's Word and promise; she did as she was asked. And until the drought ended and the rain again fell on the land, the widow had all she needed for herself and her son and Elijah, too.
As I started studying the text early last week, one of the questions that I mused on was, "What's it like to have such a promise made and miracle happen in the life of a person, a desperate person like the widow?" But then I realized that I know what it's like.
Every Sunday in worship the church gathers and God blesses us with His grace. He promises to come and abundantly bless us and He does. Never have we run out of the Word of God. Never have we run out of God's absolution and forgiveness. Never have we run out of the Lord's body and blood in the sacrament. God blesses us generously and then we come back the following Sunday and He gives even more!
Sometimes I feel like the widow. I, too, am desperate. I come with an impoverished soul. I need to hear that God forgives all the stuff that I feel so badly about - my disobedience, my selfishness, my cold heart. I need to hear God's promises and be reminded that if I were the only person in the world, He'd still keep those promises - for me. I need to hear that in the Holy Meal I meet my Lord and Savior is the most amazing way this side of heaven. When I leave worship I am filled, forgiven and refreshed.
And then, there's next week. There will be even more - grace upon grace. You, me and the widow - richly blessed and cared for by a gracious and generous God.
