Sermon from November 3, 2024, by the Rev. Dr. Tara W. Bulger

Friends, this story from 1 Kings is the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath.

This passage takes place after the reign of Solomon, when the Israelite nation has been divided in two. Israel is to the North and Judah—and Jerusalem—are in the South. God has called Elijah to be a prophet to his own nation—to Israel—for its people and its leaders have begun worshiping other Gods. God has told Elijah to tell Ahab, the king of Israel, that there will be a drought as punishment for the peoples sins. God protects Elijah by sending him to small stream where he can drink. But eventually that stream dries up.

So God sends Elijah to Zarephath where God has instructed a widow there to feed Elijah. We learn that the widow and her son, when Elijah gets to her, are as good as dead. The widow is collecting sticks to make what little food she has so that her son and her may eat their last meal and die.

But she is also faithful. And even though she and her son are as good as dead, she follows Elijah’s instructions. Even though she is as good as dead, God gives her provision—meal and oil that will last until the rains come again. It is a small thing the woman does, but it is faithful.

Today is All Saints Sunday, when we celebrate the faithful believers who have gone before us. All those people who were faithful in ways big and small to who God called them to be—they are saints. I wonder—over the course of our church’s long history—how many people have offered food to those who needed it, a hug in the midst of trouble, and listening ear and helping hand when someone is in need. Those are all saints. You—when you live out your calling to serve God—you are saints too.

I also wonder how many people have come to this place and they felt they were as good as dead, like the widow. How many people have sat in these pews when their marriages were crumbling, when their children were struggling, when they were so mired in grief they could hardly breathe? How many of them felt as though they were as good as dead, and yet, God gave them provision? God gave them one small act of goodness that allowed them to meet another day. God gave them enough spiritual food to withstand whatever drought they were in the midst of.

This church has withstood the wake of the Civil War, the Great Depression, the First and Second World Wars, Korea, and Vietnam, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and so much more. In the face of such difficulty, did the church feel like it was as good as dead? Or did the Lord provide provision, a respite, a Spirit of strength rooted in the one who called us? The Lord has given us provision. In God’s own goodness, we have been given a long tradition of saints—average, ordinary, people who did the daily act of keeping the faith. The saints are God’s provision for the church.

Maybe there is something in your life now that feels like death—that is full of pain and you can’t possibly see a way out. Maybe Tuesday’s election feels that way to you—if you’re side doesn’t win, we are as good as dead.

But make no mistake, the God who provided provision to Elijah and the widow, will provide provision even now. We will have one another as the family of faith, and we will draw on our long tradition of believing in God even in the darkness, as this church has done for generations. Let us remember, despite our circumstances, our greatest hope is always to be rooted in the triune God and God’s care for humanity. Take heart and hope in that. You may feel as good as dead, but our God is always in the resurrection business. Thanks be to God for that. Amen.