Hunger affects so much of the world. Material food is very important for the survival and sustenance of every living being. As the saying goes, a hungry person is an angry person; with food, we can even tame a beast.
In a traditional Gambian home, eating etiquette imposes a level of discipline. We were taught that we should not waste food because it was sacred, and because many were without it. Our mothers taught us to share with other children the cookies that they brought back from the market. We learned that nobody is an island. The late British philosopher Bertrand Russell said that human beings were born into relationships and that anyone who has no need of human relationships is either a beast or a god; in essence he was speaking about the importance of the relationship that must exist in human society.
The encounter between Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath is quite touching. Elijah requested a drink from the widow, as well as something to eat (17:10-11). The widow was very honest with him by telling him of her own poverty, mentioning that she and her son were down to the last of their food. What was this woman going to do after the last meal? Perhaps, wait to die or just have hopes of receiving ‘manna from heaven’?
Elijah did not just listen to the woman and her pitiful experience. He gave a message of hope that the Lord would sustain her till the end of the drought (17:12-14). She trusted and followed his instruction (17:15-16), and her supply was never dry; in fact, she had in abundance.
In the Gospel too (12:41-44), Jesus teaches on True Giving. In ‘The Widow’s Mite’, Jesus noticed a poor widow among those who were giving offerings. The poor widow gave everything in true worship to God. In human terms, she gave the least – a fraction of a penny – as compared to the large amounts the rich threw in (12:41-42). But from God’s standpoint, she had given the most. True giving is sacrificial.
Sometimes, we do not need to doubt what God can do from the little given. With generosity of spirit, miracles could take place in our lives. We just need to give to others from what we have received and believe in what God could do from our generosity.
John Correa C.S.Sp.
