I Kings 17:1-23 (Vespers, 1st Reading – Elijah)
(Read 7/20 for HOLY GLORIOUS PROPHET ELIJAH)
The word of the Lord came to Elijah, and he said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Hosts, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand this day, there still be neither dew nor rain these years, except by the words of my mouth.”
And the word of the Lord came to Elijah, saying, “Depart hence eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is before the River Jordan. And there shall be water from the brook, and you shall drink it, and I will command the ravens to feed you there.” And Elijah went and did according to the word of the Lord; and he sat besides the brook Cherith, which is before Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread in the morning, and meat in the evening, and he drank water from the brook. And it came to pass after some days, that the brook dried up, for there was no rain in the land.
And the word of the Lord came into Elijah, saying, “Arise, and go to Sarepta of the Sidonians, and dwell there. For behold, I have commanded there a widow-woman to feed you.” And he arose and went to Sarepta of the Sidonians, and came to the gate of the city; and behold, a widow-woman there was gathering sticks. And Elijah called her and said to her, “Bring to me, now, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” And she went to fetch it. And Elijah called her and said to her, “Bring me also a morsel of bread in your hand, that I may eat.” And the woman said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have not a cake, but only a handful of meal in the pitcher, and a little oil in a cruse; and behold, I am gathering two sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my children, and we shall eat it and die.”
And Elijah said to her, “Take courage, go in and do according to yor word; but make of it a little cake first and bring it to me; and afterward you shall make some for yourself and your children. For thus says the Lord God of Israel, The pitcher of meal shall not fail and the cruse of oil shall not be diminished, until the day that the Lord gives rain on the earth.” And the woman went and did according to the words of Elijah; and he ate, and she, and her children. And from that day the pitcher of meal did not fail, and the cruse of oil was not diminished, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by the hand of Elijah. And it came to pass after this that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick and his illness was very grievous, until there was no breath left in him. And she said to Elijah, “What have I do with you, O man of God? Have you come in to me to call to remembrance mu unrighteousness, and to slay my son?” And Elijah said to the woman, “Give me your son.” And he took him from her bosom and carried him to the upper chamber where he was lodged, and laid him upon his own bed. And Elijah cried aloud to the Lord and said, “Woe is me, O Lord, the witness of the widow with whom I now abide; Thou hast wrought harm in slaying her son!”
And he blew on the child three times, and called on the Lord and said, “O Lord my God, let the soul of this child return to him.” And it was so. And the child cried out; and he brought him down from the upper chamber into the house, and gave him to his mother. And Elijah said, “See, your son lives.” And the woman said to Elijah, “Behold, I know that you are a man of God, and the word of the Lord in your mouth is true.”