My Family Prayer Book

 Seventeenth Sunday in ordinary time   2 Kings 4:42-44 The “food from the first fruits” is a holy offering (Leviticus 23:20) brought on the last day of the harvest. According to the festival instructions, it is to be delivered to the priest who is to offer it before the LORD.  In 2 Kings 4, however, it is brought to the prophet Elisha who instructs that it be offered to the people who number in their hundreds, saying that it will not only be enough but there will be leftovers. The abundance is made possible by  God’s grace of a bountiful harvest. It was initiated by the generosity of an anonymous giver from the village of Baal-shalishah, the modern village of Kafr Thulth near present-day Lod about 15 miles SE of Tel Aviv.  It is shared with others because of the recipient’s (Isiah) generosity. All are included because an administrator is concerned about equity. Through this sharing the community becomes holy. The passage depicts the miracle of daily existence: h...

  Seventeenth Sunday Opening prayer Lord open our eyes that we may see you in our brothers and sisters. Lord open our ears that we may hear the cries of the hungry, the cold, the frightened, te oppressed Lord open our hearts that we may love each other as you love us Renew in us your Spirit Lord, free us and make us one in you Amen. 2 Kings 4:42-44 ​​The two books of Kings, which conclude Deuteronomy, present a 400 year historical period of ancient Israel and Judah, from the death of King David to the return from imprisonment in Babylon. Both Elijah and Elisha were major prophets of the Old Testament testifying for Yahweh against the Canaanite God Baal. Elijah was told in a dream that Elisha, a mere farmer, was to be his successor. Elisha leaves his home and follows his mentor Elijah. He also watches as Elijah is taken up to heaven in a chariot. Elisha is connected with 5 miracles and symbolic acts concerned with food.  For the first miracle, Elisha is able to give security to...