Daily Readings for June 12, 2018

1st READING

Can you imagine ingredients that never run out like the flour and oil in today’s reading? This is amazing. Sometimes, God performs miracles that leave us in awe, such as the one He did for the widow. I once witnessed the multiplication of food. There were 100 people to feed and only 80 pies were bought. But at the end of the meal, everyone ate a piece of pie and there were even leftovers.

1 Kings 17:7-16

7 The brook near where Elijah was hiding ran dry, because no rain had fallen in the land. 8 So the Lord said to Elijah: 9 “Move on to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have designated a widow there to provide for you.” 10 He left and went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the entrance of the city, a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her, “Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink.” 11 She left to get it, and he called out after her, “Please bring along a bit of bread.” 12 She answered, “As the Lord, your God, lives, I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar and a little oil in my jug. Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks, to go in and prepare something for myself and my son; when we have eaten it, we shall die.” 13 Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid. Go and do as you propose. But first make me a little cake and bring it to me. Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son. 14 For the Lord, the God of Israel, says, ‘The jar of  flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’” 15 She left and did as Elijah had said. She was able to eat for a year, and he and her son as well. 16 The jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, as the Lord had foretold through Elijah.

P S A L M 

Psalm 4:2-3, 4-5, 7-8

R: Lord, let your face shine on us.

1 [2] When I call, answer me, O my just God, you who relieve me when I am in distress; have pity on me, and hear my prayer! 2 [3] Men of rank, how long will you be dull of heart? Why do you love what is vain and seek after falsehood? (R) 3 [4] Know that the Lord does wonders for his faithful one; the Lord will hear me when I call upon him. 4 [5] Tremble, and sin not; reflect, upon your beds, in silence. (R) 6 [7] O Lord, let the light of your countenance shine upon us! 7 [8] You put gladness into my heart, more than when grain and wine abound. (R) 

GOSPEL 

Salt is one of my favorite seasonings. I cannot even imagine what it would be like if there was no saltiness in our food. Jesus is right to say that when salt loses its saltiness, it must be thrown away. God must be saddened to see people who were once on fire for Him lose their fervor and walk away from the Church and their faith. Let us pray for the grace to help one another rekindle the fire of our First Love.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

Matthew 5:13-16

13 Jesus said to his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. 16 Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”