[Salvation]

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Mark 12:38-44

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

“This poor widow put in more than all the other contributors.” (Mark 12:43)

Today’s readings give us two illus­trations of extravagant love. First, we have the widow who cared for Elijah, and in the Gospel we see another widow, who put her last two coins in the Temple treasury.

Let’s face it—neither of these women had anything! So what pos­sessed them to give so generously? There can be only one answer: love. With an almost reckless regard for their own lives, one shared her last bit of flour and oil, and one shared her last bit of money—and both did it out of love for the God they worshipped.

Whenever we witness courageous acts of love, our response should be the same reverence that Jesus had. When he saw the widow give her last two coins, he was so moved that he praised her to his apostles. “She, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood,” he told them (Mark 12:44).

Blessed Mother Teresa understood this type of love, because she saw it every day on the streets of Calcutta. She once observed: “I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.” Like the widows in today’s readings, Mother Teresa encountered those who, despite hav­ing barely enough to live on, loved God and neighbor so deeply that they willingly shared the little they had with those who had even less.

What a high and beautiful goal these women have set for us! No matter where we are on the spectrum of earthly riches, we all have our own sense of what it means to give and to love until it hurts. Each of us can experience the great paradox that when we give of ourselves so deeply, we will encounter a love that will never be outdone in its generosity.

“Lord, I long for just a glimmer of the love that these widows had for you. Open my eyes to those who need your love, so that I can love them as extravagantly as you do.”

1 Kings 17:10-16; Psalm 146:7-10; Hebrews 9:24-28

Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion

1. In the First Reading, we meet a widow whose great faith in God allowed her to trust that what Elijah told her was true. “For the Lord, the God of Israel says, ‘The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry until the day when the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’” Share a time when you were obedient to what you believed the Lord wanted you to do. What was the fruit of this obedience?

2. The Responsorial Psalm speaks of the Lord’s faithfulness to the most needy -- the oppressed, hungry, captives, blind, fatherless, widows, and those who are bowed down. What are some ways you can imitate the Lord by reaching out to others less fortunate than you?

3. The Second Reading speaks of Jesus’ first coming, and his sacrifice on the cross, and his second coming, when he will “bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.” Are you joyful and expectant when you think of the Jesus’ second coming? Why or why not? Should you be?

4. In the Gospel, Jesus contrasts the difference between the behavior of the scribes and that of the poor widow. Why do you think Jesus did this? How would you describe the difference? How does it apply to your own life?

5. In the meditation, these words of Blessed Mother Teresa are quoted: “I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.” What do these words mean to you? What steps can you take to live these words out more fully in your life?

6. Take some time now to pray and ask for the grace to know and experience more deeply God’s great love for you, and the grace to give it away to others. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.

[Salvation]

A Christian Pilgrim

THE POOR WIDOW’S OFFERING

(A biblical refection on THE 32^nd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – 11 NOVEMBER, 2012) 

Gospel Reading: Mark 12:38-44 

First Reading: 1Kings 17:10-16; Psalms: Ps 146:7-10; Second Reading: Heb 9:24-28 

The Scripture Text

And in His teaching He said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to go about in long robes, and to have salutations in the market places and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” 

And He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the multitude putting money into the treasury, and watched the multitude putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came, and put in two copper coins, which make a penny. And He called His disciples to Him, and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For they all contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, her whole living.”  (Mk 12:38-44 RSV) 

The worshipers calmly entered the Temple, depositing their donations into the venerable-looking container near the door. Sitting in a chair nearby, Jesus noted the amounts of money each dropped into the treasury. Then He called His disciples over to share His insights about the wealthy and the poor, the big checks and the small coins.

One person had deeply impressed Him – a poor widow, who had given a mere pittance, compared to most of the others. No doubt, He prefaced His remarks with the reminder that He was not condemning the big gifts by praising the small ones. That would have been foolish, for the Temple needed large donations to continue as a place of worship.

Although the widow gave only two paltry coins, worth but a few cents, Jesus was impressed. He praised her because it was a high percentage gift. The others, He said, “gave from their surplus wealth, but she gave from her want ……” The wealthy gave a tiny fraction of what they possessed, but she gave nearly everything she had. The value of the gift was practically nothing but Jesus saw the value of the giver.

Today, many people feel that money is a forbidden topic in the pulpit, that it is unspiritual and unworthy to be associated with worship. Some even say that’s why they avoid church. However, Jesus apparently saw no conflict between scrutinizing the collection basket and preaching the Kingdom of God.

Granted that “money sermons” are overdone by some preachers, generosity is still a valuable virtue. Furthermore, if religion is to speak to our needs, hopes and worries, we must talk of money – which is at the heart of many of our dilemmas. “How much does it cost?” is a phrase continually on our minds and lips. The cost of “running the church” is a heavy burden for all pastors.

Today’s Gospel reading is not trying to embarrass the rich to donate more to the church and charity but is a call for all of us to be generous. Being poor does not absolve one from this. “Two small copper coins” are very pleasing to God if that’s all we can afford. Regardless of the amount, each should make some offering, and it will be valuable if it flows from a spirit of sincere generosity.

Short Prayer: Lord, we are all poor before You. Why should we be afraid to share of what we have received? Please forgive us because sometimes we fail to trust You, even though we know Your return is always more than our small gift. Amen.