Elijah Raises the Widow’s Son From the Dead

Text: 1 Kings 17:17-24

Reflection and Question: This is the second miracle performed by the prophet as the stories about Elijah begin. First, he sought out a widow who had only a handful of meal and a little oil for herself and her son’s last meal. When Elijah joins them, the food does not fail and they live for many days. But now the widow’s son has died and she berates Elijah saying, “You have come to bring my sin to remembrance, and to cause the death of my son!” Not so. Elijah revives him with prayer and the widow believes. What does it take for you to believe?

Prayer: Holy Spirit, our eyes don’t see You at work in our time in the way You sustained Elijah, the widow and her son and raised the child from the dead. Open our eyes to Your miracles happening now, so that our faith, like the widow’s, may bloom. Amen.

This meditation is based on the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).