Scripture Readings
The Books of Kings give the histories of Judah and the northern kingdom Israel between David’s death and the exile of Judah to Babylon in 586 BC. Israel’s kings frequently worshipped false gods, and so God punished them. King Ahab married Jezebel and worshipped Baal. After God sent a drought, he accepted Elijah’s sacrifice. Elijah then killed all Ahab’s priests, and then retreated into the desert for safety. The widow of Zarephath shared her last food with him. She was rewarded: her food stores were continually replenished, and today we hear how her son was brought back to life through Elijah’s prayer to God.
This links to Luke’s Gospel in which Jesus, after healing the centurion’s slave, brings back to life the son of the widow of Nain. Then John the Baptist asks Jesus “Are you he who is to come?”
For the next six weeks our second readings are from Paul’s letter to the Galatians, where visitors from Jerusalem had insisted they must become Jews before becoming Christians. Paul expresses astonishment that they have deserted his teachings, and insists his authority is what he heard directly from Jesus himself on the way to Damascus, when Jesus commissioned him to take the gospel to the Gentiles. And Peter and James had not contradicted Paul.
Psalm Response: I will Praise you, Lord, you have rescued me.
(1 Kings 17:17-24; Psalm 29(30);Gal 1:11-19; Luke 7:11-17)
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