Elijah prophesied a severe drought throughout the land. It gripped the land for three years and a half, and brought famine with it. Many people were dying of hunger. Elijah sustained himself by the stream at the wadi Cherith, and was provided for by ravens bringing him food. Later when the stream dried up, he moved to Zarephath where a pagan widow provided for his care and food. By doing this, she was the only person receiving mercy from God's prophet. For us today, in difficult times we learn to help one another and to share, and at the same time, knowing and trusting in God that these difficult times will end if we are only patient.

The Beatitudes are thought by many to be too idealistic - impossible for people to live by in our modern world. Ironically, they are the key to our survival and our flourishing as a people. Several of them stress aspects of humility, while others speak of gentleness, non-violence, compassionate empathy, and an unceasing strife for justice and righteousness. Jesus alone lived these Beatitudes perfectly. But wherever they are practised, even imperfectly, the door to God's kingdom opens and some of the divine light illuminates us. Thus, the world changes, if even just a tiny bit. These divine principles are the keys of the kingdom. Let us always keep them in mind and strive to practise them each day.