Desperate Strangers [Proper 27B - 1 Kings 17:8-16]
The Rt. Rev. Jeremiah Williamson 1 Kings 17:8-16 Desperate Strangers St. Timothy’s, Westford The excitement was overwhelming…until it suddenly and decisively abated. The hometown crowd had been buzzing about the return of their rising star. Jesus was making a name for himself in the surrounding villages. And now, he was coming home, to do his thing. It started off strong. Jesus was amazing. They were impressed; it was impossible not to be impressed. His beginnings were humble but you would never know that, the way he held the crowd, the way he exuded otherworldly wisdom. They were hanging on his every word. He was even better than they imagined. Jesus should have quit while he was ahead – pulled a George Costanza and walked off on the high note. But Jesus stood back up. He played the encore. After wowing the crowd, Jesus decided to add a little something to the end of his highly successful sermon: “The truth is,” he said, “there wer