Re-centering the Widow: A Lesson in Getting It Wrong

There are several times I confuse the names Elijah and Ezekiel in this sermon. (Because I have been single parenting this week, and am overwhelmed with what is going on in the world like many of you, and I'm tired). Elijah and Ezekiel were both First Testament Jewish prophets writing at different times and with different agendas. The point I was making about their names still holds. Ezekiel has a Hebrew name of God in his name- el. Elijah has a Hebrew name for God in his name -Jah. Rev. Dr. Wilda Gafney named the Widow of Zarapheth Ummaastarte (After the Canaanite Goddess Astarte) to point this out. 

 My apologies for this error. Especially to my Jewish friends.  

 I thought about how all of my male detractors online were going to attack and write me off about all of this, and at first I didn't want to let Ashley post it because I was mad at myself for the mistake. The criticism of women online is merciless right now. Especially when it comes to the bible and ministry. 

But the Holy Spirit encouraged me to sit with it. And it dawned on me from somewhere in my Shadow that this whole conversation was supposed to be about an unnamed widow from Zaraphath — not about Elijah and Ezekiel. I had inadvertently placed my focus on these male prophets (while owning my error) and silenced her and diverted away from her story yet again. (Which is exactly what I was trying not to do). 

I think it is a terrific lesson about how hard it is to engage scripture in the way we are engaging it in this series. Even in my preaching about an unnamed woman, I unconsciously made things in my head about the names of two much more well known male prophets. 

It feels like an important revelation. I'm sitting with it. I think it deserves a blog of its own after my sitting. -Rev. Jeanne