This poor widow put in more than all the others

Thirty secondth Sunday in Ordinary time – Year B

Collect

Almighty and merciful God, graciously keep from us all adversity, so that, unhindered in mind and body alike, we may pursue in freedom of heart the things that are yours. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 

1 Kgs 17:10-16

The widow made a little cake from her flour and gave it to Elijah.

A reading from the first Book of Kings

In those days, Elijah the prophet went to Zarephath.
As he arrived at the entrance of the city,
   a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her,
   “Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink.”
She left to get it, and he called out after her,
   “Please bring along a bit of bread.”
She answered, “As the LORD, your God, lives,
   I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar
   and a little oil in my jug.
Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks,
   to go in and prepare something for myself and my son;
   when we have eaten it, we shall die.”
Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid.
Go and do as you propose.
But first make me a little cake and bring it to me.
Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son.
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.’”
She left and did as Elijah had said.
She was able to eat for a year, and he and her son as well;
   the jar of flour did not go empty,
   nor the jug of oil run dry,
   as the LORD had foretold through Elijah.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 146:7, 8-9, 9-10

R. :

℟. (1b) Praise the Lord, my soul!
  or:
℟. Alleluia.

The LORD keeps faith forever,
   secures justice for the oppressed,
   gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.

℟. Praise the Lord, my soul!
  or:
℟. Alleluia.

The LORD gives sight to the blind.
   the LORD raises up those who were bowed down;
The LORD loves the just.
   the LORD protects strangers.

℟. Praise the Lord, my soul!
  or:
℟. Alleluia.

The fatherless and the widow he sustains,
   but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
   your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.

℟. Praise the Lord, my soul!
  or:
℟. Alleluia.

Second Reading
Heb 9:24-28

Christ was offered once to take away the sins of many.

A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews.

Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands,
   a copy of the true one, but heaven itself,
   that he might now appear before God on our behalf.
Not that he might offer himself repeatedly,
   as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary
   with blood that is not his own;
   if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly
   from the foundation of the world.
But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages
   to take away sin by his sacrifice.
Just as it is appointed that human beings die once,
   and after this the judgment,
   so also Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many,
   will appear a second time, not to take away sin
   but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.

Acclamation before the Gospel
Mt 5:3

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.


Mk 12:38-44

This poor widow put in more than all the others.

✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark

In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds,
“Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes
   and accept greetings in the marketplaces,
   seats of honor in synagogues,
   and places of honor at banquets.
They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext
   recite lengthy prayers.
They will receive a very severe condemnation.”

He sat down opposite the treasury
   and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury.
Many rich people put in large sums.
A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.
Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them,
   “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more
   than all the other contributors to the treasury.
For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth,
   but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had,
   her whole livelihood.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

All reply:

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflection 

In this Sunday’s Gospel the Church presents us with Jesus who places before us two types of people: those who seem righteous outwardly and those who are righteous interiorly. On the one hand, you have the scribes, who are focused on worldly glory. They delight in appearing virtuous in people’s eyes, while they “devour widows’ houses” (v. 40) and hide behind vain robes that distinguish them from common people. On the other hand, we have the widow who humbled herself and did not despise publicly revealing her poverty. She kept nothing of what she had for herself; her generous heart was revealed by the two copper coins that she placed in the treasury.  

Jesus tells us, “Beware of the scribes” (v. 38). Do we sometimes behave like the scribes? What is more important to us: how righteous and good we appear to others, or seeing the needs of our neighbour and being prepared to assist them wholeheartedly? Although the widow’s offering was insignificant when compared to the offerings that were placed by those who were rich, the widow’s offering was of greater value. This is due to the fact that she did not give from her abundance, but gave all she had, as Jesus tell us: the widow put in “everything she had, her whole living” (v. 44). While the world sees outward appearances, the Lord sees what is hidden in the heart. We can say that this widow is a model for those who take their walk with the Lord Jesus seriously. The Christian life is truly challenging. If we want to become authentic disciples of Jesus, it is necessary to let go of all security and abandon ourselves into the Lord’s hands, with faith and hope in Him.

How prepared are we to give all that we are and all that we have to welcome Jesus into our lives? 

Prayer 

Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; 
 and I will keep it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep thy law 
and observe it with my whole heart. Lead me in the path of thy commandments, 
for I delight in it. 

 Incline my heart to thy testimonies, 
 and not to gain!

Psalm 119: 33-36 

 

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