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<v SPEAKER_00>One of the most repeated commands of the entire Bible is this do not be afraid.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We hear it again today in the first reading.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Elijah again arrives in Seraph during a devastating famine.

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<v SPEAKER_00>God has told him that a widow will provide for him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But when he arrives, the situation looks anything but promising.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He finds a woman gathering sticks, he asks her for water and a little bread.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Her response is heartbreaking.

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<v SPEAKER_00>She tells him she has only a handful of flour and a little oil left.

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<v SPEAKER_00>She's preparing one final meal for herself and for her son.

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<v SPEAKER_00>After that, she expects to die.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Imagine the despair in those words.

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<v SPEAKER_00>This woman has no savings, no safety net, no backup plan, no hope on the horizon.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And into that situation, Elijah speaks the first words that God so often speaks to his people.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Do not be afraid.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Then comes the difficult part.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Elijah asks her to trust God before she sees the miracle.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He asks her to act in faith before she receives the blessing.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The flower does not multiply first.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The oil does not overflow first.

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<v SPEAKER_00>She must trust first.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And that is usually how God works.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Most of us would prefer the opposite.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We would like God to show us the miracle and then we'll trust him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Lord, solve this problem and then I'll believe.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I'll be right on board.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Heal this illness, then I'll trust.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I'll see your plan.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Provide the answer, then I will surrender completely.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But faith rarely works that way.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Faith is taking the next step when we cannot yet see the whole staircase.

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<v SPEAKER_00>This widow teaches us something beautiful about trust.

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<v SPEAKER_00>She gives out of her poverty.

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<v SPEAKER_00>She gives when it makes no human sense.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And because she entrusts herself to God, the jar of flour does not go empty and the jug of oil does not run dry.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The miracle begins the moment fear gives way to faith.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Now, if we turn to the gospel, Jesus says something extraordinary.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He says, You are the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Notice what he does not say.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He does not say, try hard to become salt.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He does not say, maybe one day you'll be the light.

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<v SPEAKER_00>No, he's saying you are.

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<v SPEAKER_00>By our baptism we have been given a mission.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Salt preserves.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Salt gives flavor.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Light drives away darkness.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The Christian is meant to make a difference whenever he or she goes.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Wherever she goes or he goes.

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<v SPEAKER_00>A Christian home should be different because a Christian lives there.

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<v SPEAKER_00>A workplace should be different because a Christian works there.

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<v SPEAKER_00>A parish should also be different because Christians worship together there.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The world should encounter something of Christ through us.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But there's a challenge in today's gospel.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Jesus warns that salt can lose its effectiveness and that light can be hidden.

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<v SPEAKER_00>In other words, disciples can become spiritually bland.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We can become so much like the world that no one can tell the difference.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We can keep our pay our faith private, hidden away, never allowing it to influence how we live.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We can attend mass, we can say our prayers, yet fail to let the gospel shape our decisions, our priorities, our conversations, and our relationships.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The widow in the first reading did not hide her faith.

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<v SPEAKER_00>She acted on it.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And because she trusted God, she became an instrument of God's providence, not only for herself, but also for Elijah.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And that's what disciples do.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They trust God enough to become part of his plan.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Perhaps the connection between these two readings is this the widow teaches us how to trust.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Jesus teaches us why.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We trust God not only so that He can provide for us, but so that He can work through us.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Every one of us knows someone who needs light right now.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Someone who is discouraged, someone who's grieving, someone who's confused, someone who's battling an uphill problem.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The question is whether we will allow Christ's light to shine through us.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The saints did not change the world because they were powerful.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They changed the world because they were available.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They trusted God and they let their light shine.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So today ask yourself two questions.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Where is God asking me to trust him more deeply?

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<v SPEAKER_00>And where is God asking me to be light for someone else?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because when faith overcomes fear, something remarkable happens.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The flour does not run dry, and the oil does not run out.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The light keeps shining.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Amen.