Eucharistic Meditation, First of Lent

?And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he would drink from the brook.?E

In this morning sermon, we saw how the writer of Kings highlights the authority of Elijah and His power. He speaks, and the heavens become iron, without rain or dew. He tells the widow what to do, and the widow obeys Elijah?s voice. He lays himself out on a dead child, and the boy comes back to life. Through the power of Yahweh?s Word, Elijah?s word becomes effective; through the power of Yahweh?s life, Elijah gives life.

It?s important to see a sequence at work here, which is similar to the sequence that we find in the life of Moses. Moses is saved through water at the beginning of his life; he escapes from Pharaoh to Midian, and provides water for the daughters of Jethro; and then he leads the nation Israel through the waters of the Sea of Reeds in the exodus. First he?s rescued; then he becomes a rescuer. First he?s given life through water; then he gives life through water.

We have the same pattern here with Elijah. In the first miracle, Elijah is merely a passive recipient of the provision of God. He obeys in faith and goes to the wadi Cherith, but there ravens serve him the bounty of morning and evening meals. He is waited on, and is a passive recipient of the Lord?s food. When he goes to the widow, however, he gives orders, which she obeys, and he not only saves himself but her household. Finally, he gives life to a dead boy. Having received food, he gives food. Having received life in the midst of drought, he gives life. ?Out of the eater comes forth meat.?E

The pattern is the same for the church, and for every Christian. You, like Moses, have been baptized into the new life of the church; and you are called to share that life-giving water with others. At this table, you receive life and food. God gives you a rich feast in the midst of death and drought. And He says to you: Go, and do likewise.