What God Sees

A Reflection on the First Reading for June 28th, 2020:
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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​2 Kings
4.8-12a, 14-16

One day Elisha was passing through Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to have a meal. So whenever he passed that way, he would stop there for a meal. She said to her husband, “Look, I am sure that this man who regularly passes our way is a holy man of God. Let us make a small roof chamber with walls, and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that he can stay there whenever he comes to us.”

One day when Elisha came there, he went up to the chamber and lay down there. He said to his servant Gehazi, “What then may be done for the woman?” Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.” Elisha said, “Call her.” When the servant had called her, she stood at the door. Elisha said, “At this season, in due time, you shall embrace a son.”

Pause. Pray.

And then read more...

God sees a good heart. This woman, who is identified by her privilege and not by her name, is remembered for her good heart. Wealth and privilege put her in a unique position to serve. As Uncle Ben (from Spiderman) would tell us, with great power comes great responsibility. This woman didn’t do the bare minimum. She urged him to eat. She fed him whenever he came to the area. She went so far as to build him a room to rest in when she saw his visits were regular. She saw a person in need and used her privilege to serve him. She did not do it for any reward – although she is given one of exceeding personal value.
 
There are so many important takeaways from this short reading, but for me, the most important is privilege and credit. This woman had privilege and influence that many of the other women we encounter in the Old Testament do not. She is married; she is wealthy; she has the ear and respect of her husband. In this one short paragraph it is clear that she is discerning and quietly generous with her wealth and privilege. She doesn’t ask for anything, she just gives.
 
The other important element of this story is credit. She is not named. She is not praised. How often do we hear of wealthy people’s good deeds because they make a great fuss about having their names attached to them? While that does not diminish the impact of the work on the lives of those who are served, it can make one question the motivation. Are they just doing it for the charitable receipt? Are they trying to improve public awareness and positive perception of them personally or their business? We can’t help but assume there’s some benefit for that person, otherwise why would they make sure we all knew it was them?
 
This woman is a good example of what Jesus said: “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,” (Matthew 6:3). While her name is long forgotten and only known to God, the good example of her deeds lives here in the book of Kings. Do we follow the Gospel’s call to generosity without credit? Are our eyes open to the needs of others and do we go beyond the minimum to serve?

 
Let us pray: Heavenly Father, teach us to be like this woman who served Elisha in humility. May we acknowledge times when our ability to give meets the needs of another and be bold in our giving. Teach our hearts how to give without expectation of return, reward, or credit. All we have belongs to You. All we are is Yours. Thank you for the opportunities to serve that You send us. AMEN
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Stephanie Potter

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