The jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry as the Lord had foretold. Don’t we all love stories that have good endings? The first reading for today has read like a good story with an ending that we all desire. Blessed Mother Theresa is quoted to have said that  none is so poor as to lack anything to give. As the famine raged on in the land of Israel, Elijah was prompted to seek help somewhere else as the brook where he took shelter ran dry. The Lord directed him to a poor widow who, together with her son, was on their last jar of flour. When Elijah encountered her, he asked her for a drink of water and something to eat. And she willingly did oblige (her telling Elijah that the meal was going to be their last was not a sign of objection but rather a thumbs up so that Elijah would understand in case what she would bring him would be of a small quantity).
At a time when the people of the land would have been cautious to share their meagre meals with strangers, this poor widow proved to Elijah that goodness still resided on the land. As a widow, this poor lady knew first-hand what it meant to be in Elijah’s shoes. From the moment her husband died, she became a beggar and relied on the goodness of others for her survival. And from her experience, she knew that God never deserts God’s people who are in need. From her own experience, she too was very much aware that her encountering Elijah was not a sheer coincidence. God had been there for her at her time of need, answering her and responding to her cries of help. She did not know who Elijah was, save for the fact that he was in need. It was her turn to show Elijah that God had heard his cries and come to his aid. It was her turn to help this poor man believe in divine providence. And when she did, the Lord did bless her generosity. The poor widow acted as he/she who believes in God’s providence should: she truly trusted that just as God had provided for her in the past, so would God continue to do. May we too learn to place our trust entirely on the Lord.