Stewardship of Life

Called from Death to Life

By Sharron R. Blezard, June 2, 2016

Lectionary Reflection for the Third Sunday of Pentecost, Year C

June 5, 2016

Elijah took the child, brought him down from the upper chamber into the house, and gave him to his mother; then Elijah said, “See, your son is alive.” So the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.” 1 Kings 17:23-24

“I’m dying for a drink of water,” said the eighth-grade cross country runner. Granted, it was a hot, muggy Tennessee early autumn afternoon, and she had just completed a rigorous training run, but I was pretty sure that she wasn’t anywhere close to physical death. We took great care to see that our young charges stayed hydrated well during workouts. We encouraged them to carry water bottles and drink throughout the school day. I understood what she meant; she was REALLY thirsty and needed to replenish, but compared to the millions of people around the world who lack clean and/or sufficient drinkable water — who really are dying for a drink of water — her comment failed to carry real weight.

The widows in this week’s gospel and Old Testament lessons understand death in a different light. For them, the death of a son means lack of protection, livelihood, and security. They might really soon be “dying for a drink of water” or uncertain about the source of their next meal or where they could safely sleep at night. The deaths of their sons would quite possibly be death sentences for the mothers, a comingling of grief and painful injustice.

What happens next for both women is a real turning point; not only are their sons restored and the women returned to some measure of societal security (at least for the moment), but also both mothers and sons are granted new hope, new possibilities, and new life.

Notice that the healings in both stories involve touch, a fact that reminds us of the significance and power of touch to heal, comfort, and sustain. Jesus touches the funeral bier of the widow’s son and speaks the young man back to life. The prophet Elijah prays and touches the boy three times while pleading with God to revive him, and the prophet’s efforts are successful. These are both tangible and kinesthetic restorations to new life. Both healing events serve as powerful witness: In Luke’s story the mourners are “seized” by fear and then glorify God, and in the case of widow from Zarephath, she comes to believe the truth of Elijah’s words. Both stories underscore God’s abundance and desire for the most marginalized to experience goodness and compassion.

You and I and the people we serve may not be literally “dying” of thirst or be at death’s door this Sunday, but we are all inching our way toward a future beyond this life. Some are closer than others. Many of us have experienced pain and loss from the death of someone we love, perhaps even in an economic and social way akin to the two widows. The fact remains we are still drawing breath, and we are experiencing little deaths throughout life. We die to ambition, to dreams, to financial security, to failed marriages, to addictions, and to plans that seemed so very certain. Death is not God’s desire nor the final answer. Jesus proves that once and for all by moving from cross to grave to resurrection.

We may, however, have to die and experience some little deaths to find the real and preferred life that God wants us to have on this earth. We are called to die to self and to sin and to rise to newness of life in Christ. Paul helps to explain this process in his description of his authority to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and his 180-degree turn from righteous murderer to fool for Christ.

Life is funny like that. We never know how God’s going to show up and change our trajectory. Just look at how the lives of the widows were altered. The best thing we can do is be ready to give it all up and give it all away for the sake of the gospel. In dying to that which really doesn’t matter anyway, we are freed in Christ to truly live. Risky business? You betcha! But’s it is worth every iota of risk and release. Go ahead, try it. Die a little to live a lot. Learn for yourself just how true that word of God really is.

(Photo: Lucas H S Gulmaraes, Arlan Zwegers, and Jackie.Ick, Creative Commons. Thanks!)