32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
November 8, 2015 – Year B
Readings: 1 Kgs 17:10-16 / Psalm 146 / Heb 9:24-28 / Mk 12:38-44
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

We all know that there is no such a reality as something for nothing. There is a term called “priming the pump” which literally means that we should pour some water into the pump to enable it to begin pumping more water. This is part of life’s reality. We have to give at least a little in exchange for something we would like to get in life.

Today’s first reading taken from the First Book of Kings has given us an example of this reality. After the poor widow made a little cake for the prophet Elijah from her last handful of flour and a little oil left in her jug, she was rewarded. As the scripture puts it, her jar of flour did not go empty nor her jug of oil run dry.

In the Gospel, the Lord Jesus praises the poor widow who put two small coins into the temple treasury. As he puts it, from her poverty, she has contributed her whole livelihood. It goes without saying that her rewards will be great. In the sacred scriptures, offering doesn’t only mean giving our treasures, but it also means giving our time, our talents, and at least part of our God-given gifts.

Our Lord God, with all the Angels and Saints, is definitely happy and rejoicing at this very moment, because we are all gathered here inside the sanctuary of Holy Name of Mary to worship Him and to participate in the highest form of prayer in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. We are surely giving our precious moment and time for more than an hour. Some of us are also offering our talents in the different ministries here in Holy Name. In one way or another, we also generously offer part of what we are and what we have.

But our faith also tells us that God could never be outdone in generosity. In His Sermon on the Plain, which is St. Luke’s version of St. Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount, the Lord Jesus said, “Give and gifts will be given to you.” A good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing will be poured into your lap.