November 21, 2005
Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Psalm: Monday 50
Reading IDn 1:1-6, 8-20
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah,
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came
and laid siege to Jerusalem.
The Lord handed over to him Jehoiakim, king of Judah,
and some of the vessels of the temple of God;
he carried them off to the land of Shinar,
and placed the vessels in the temple treasury of his god.
The king told Ashpenaz, his chief chamberlain,
to bring in some of the children of Israel of royal blood
and of the nobility, young men without any defect,
handsome, intelligent and wise,
quick to learn, and prudent in judgment,
such as could take their place in the king’s palace;
they were to be taught the language and literature of the Chaldeans;
after three years’ training they were to enter the king’s service.
The king allotted them a daily portion of food and wine
from the royal table.
Among these were men of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah.
But Daniel was resolved not to defile himself
with the king’s food or wine;
so he begged the chief chamberlain to spare him this defilement.
Though God had given Daniel the favor and sympathy
of the chief chamberlain, he nevertheless said to Daniel,
“I am afraid of my lord the king;
it is he who allotted your food and drink.
If he sees that you look wretched
by comparison with the other young men of your age,
you will endanger my life with the king.”
Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief chamberlain
had put in charge of Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah,
“Please test your servants for ten days.
Give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.
Then see how we look in comparison with the other young men
who eat from the royal table,
and treat your servants according to what you see.”
He acceded to this request, and tested them for ten days;
after ten days they looked healthier and better fed
than any of the young men who ate from the royal table.
So the steward continued to take away
the food and wine they were to receive, and gave them vegetables.
To these four young men God gave knowledge and proficiency
in all literature and science,
and to Daniel the understanding of all visions and dreams.
At the end of the time the king had specified for their preparation,
the chief chamberlain brought them before Nebuchadnezzar.
When the king had spoken with all of them,
none was found equal to Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah;
and so they entered the king’s service.
In any question of wisdom or prudence which the king put to them,
he found them ten times better
than all the magicians and enchanters in his kingdom.
Responsorial PsalmDaniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56
R. (52b)
Glory and praise for ever!“Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;
And blessed is your holy and glorious name,
praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.”
R.
Glory and praise for ever!“Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,
praiseworthy and glorious above all forever.”
R.
Glory and praise for ever!“Blessed are you on the throne of your Kingdom,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.”
R.
Glory and praise for ever!“Blessed are you who look into the depths
from your throne upon the cherubim,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.”
R.
Glory and praise for ever!“Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven,
praiseworthy and glorious forever.”
R.
Glory and praise for ever!
GospelLk 21:1-4
When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people
putting their offerings into the treasury
and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins.
He said, “I tell you truly,
this poor widow put in more than all the rest;
for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”
From: Luke 21:1-4
The Widow's Mite
[1] He (Jesus) looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the
treasury; [2] and He saw a poor widow put in two copper coins. [3] And
He said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of
them; [4] for they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out
of her poverty put in all the living she had."
Commentary:
1-4. Our Lord, surrounded by His disciples, watches people putting
offerings into the treasury. This was a place in the women's
courtyard, where there were various collection boxes for the offerings
of the faithful. Just then, something happens whose significance Jesus
wants His disciples to notice: a poor widow puts in two small coins, of
very little value. He describes this as the greatest offering of all,
praising the generosity of giving alms for this purpose, particularly
that of those people who give part of what they need. Our Lord is
moved by this tiny offering because in her case it implies a big
sacrifice. "The Lord does not look", St. John Chrysostom comments, "at
the amount offered but at the affection with which it is offered"
("Hom. on Heb", 1). Generosity is of the essence of almsgiving. This
woman teaches us that we can move God's heart if we give Him all we
can, which will always amount to very little even if we give our very
lives. "How little a life is to offer to God!" ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way",
42).
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.
