Where will our relationship with God be seen?

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary indicate that the opportunity to live in and demonstrate faith is a choice which we may not fully embrace. The passage from the Books of Kings, according to Friar Jude Winkler illustrates a principle in Jewish Law "as the sin so the punishment". The famine, which is the catastrophic event through which the widow of Zarephath is living, was the punishment for turning to the false god of fertility, Baal. Elijah, the Prophet through whom the Word of God had been rejected by the people of Israel, goes to pagan territory and finds faith in the pagan widow to do as the Prophet of God says and trust that she and her son would not suffer for her obedience. The pagan widow was open to Providence, in contrast to Israelites who stubbornly refused to hear the call of God to change. Salt and Light summarize the visibility for followers of Jesus as contained in the wisdom sayings which are a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount from the Gospel of Matthew. The flavour and attitude which we bring to the events of life is our witness to a faith which, as the psalmist praises, is aware that God is attentive to the needs of people and in addressing those needs. This shows the world the Will which is to bring peace and joy to all. Our motivation is not self praise or attention to our virtue. It is to act as the witness to humble faith and trust in the relationship we are invited to share with the Divine.