Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
November 10, 2024 — Year B
Readings: 1 Kgs 17:10-16 / Ps 146 / Heb 9:24-28 / Mk 12:38-44
by Rev. Nixon Negparanon, Pastor

Our readings today call every one of us to think about and reflect on genuine generosity, trust, and humility.  The Church shows us that authentic giving is not a matter of abundance and high status, but a heart surrendered to God.  The poor widow in the first reading, the teachings from the letter to the Hebrews, and the praise of Jesus towards the widow’s action in the gospel, encourage us to ask ourselves about the meaning of true and genuine giving from the heart.

In today’s first reading, we have the story of the widow from Zarephath, a woman who humanly speaking, literally has almost nothing in this world.  Then she receives a visit from the prophet Elijah.  She is in the process of gathering her last bit of food to eat with her son, when Elijah approaches her and asks for some food.  This becomes a response of faith and obedience on her part, whereby God proceeds to bless her with an inexhaustible fountain of flour and oil.  She shows trust.  This act of kindness surely will bring even greater blessings, and so it does.

Most of the time we find ourselves in the same situation as the widow of Zarephath.  We often think that we only have enough for ourselves.  This could be true in our human world, as most of our priorities revolve around jobs, seeking wealth, entertainment, or leisure activities.  Elijah shows us a different picture.  The first thing in our lives must be faithfulness to God.  We might say, “No.  I must be busy with other things like feeding my family, educating my children, and allowing time for pleasurable activities.”  Elijah might agree with us but would probably begin the conversation by saying that those activities are fine and should be part of our lives, but first we should make our God “a little cake” and bring it to Him.

Paul’s letter to the Hebrews reminds us of the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, who gave not only from His earthly life, but also from His very being.  Christ’s offering was perfect and complete in that He did not stop at public display of duty but showed selflessness rooted in love.  This text points to the deepest part of generosity wherein heart and soul are fully committed toward service to others.

Finally, in the gospel, Jesus contrasts the conduct of the scribes with that of the poor widow who, without any show, drops two copper coins in the temple treasury.  The rich are giving out of their plenty, but this woman gives all she has for her livelihood.  Jesus sees her act as a profound witness of faith and love, not because of the amount she gives, but because of the heart with which it is given.  The poor widow received the praise of Jesus because she put in her last money, though she was poor.  As Jesus said, she gave all she had to live on.  The message of Jesus is very clear.  Every person is capable of sharing, no matter how poor or needy he or she is.

Some people give because they want something in return.  Jesus tells us today that genuine giving must be sincere.  It must come from the heart.  If we expect something in return, it is no longer considered giving, but rather a transaction.  If we think of helping a person now, while in the future expect that person to return the favor, it is not helping or giving, but rather a debt.  The real value of giving is not measured by the amount given.  If this is the case, then everyone can afford to do this.  But real giving is the generous giving of oneself, a sort of sacrifice on the part of the giver.

The readings today share a common message of sacrificial giving and trust in God.  It is a trust by which our authenticity leads to generosity.  We give, not from our surplus, but from the sincerity of our hearts.  In fact, Saint Ignatius of Loyola once said that love is shown more in deeds than in words.  Deeply inherent in today’s readings, each character shows faith and love in their actions, not merely with words.

Sacrificial giving generally runs counter to the culture of material wealth, social status, and appearance in this world.  The accumulation and guarding of resources are usually rewarded by society, while true acts of love and trust are mostly ignored.  This gospel reminds us, however, that God sees and values those acts of the heart.  The widow’s offering, indeed, had a small monetary value but was great in its spiritual value.

We are called beyond surface level generosity into the understanding of what it means to give in a way honoring God.  In financial resources, time, or love, each one of us has something we can give, even if it feels small or insignificant.  As we look at these examples of trust and selflessness, our own lives have to be considered.  Is our giving sacrificial, or do we simply give when it’s convenient?  Do we give only when it is easy, or are we willing to give when it requires faith?

Such trust and sacrificial giving are exemplified in the life of Saint Teresa of Calcutta, who is known for her service to the poorest of the poor.  Perhaps the following story about her is most fitting in reflecting on today’s gospel message. The story goes that one day, a woman came to her with a small bundle of rice, her only food for the day, and offered it to help the needy.  Mother Teresa was deeply moved, seeing in this woman’s gift the same spirit as the gospel’s widow: to give, not from her abundance, but from her very sustenance.  As Mother Teresa once said, it is not how much we give that is important, but how much love we put into giving.  Like the widow in today’s gospel, so too, this woman’s offering in material terms was trifling, but was great in faith and love.  Mother Teresa knew that it was in such little offerings of self that God’s love is most deeply revealed.  She often exhorted her sisters to give until it hurts, not because pain is the end, but because true giving often requires a willingness to go beyond what is comfortable or convenient.

As we continue to reflect today, we are called to consider our own generosity.  Are we like the wealthy in the gospel who give only what doesn’t disrupt their comfort?  Or is there courage deep within us to give in ways that require trust in God’s provision for us?  Today’s message is not only about money, but about all kinds of giving:  the giving of our time, attention, and kindness.  In this busy world, sometimes the best thing we can give is the gift of our presence.  Like the insignificant two coins of the widow, time spent comforting a friend or helping a stranger may be unimportant, but for God these are priceless.

Let us pray that we may obtain a heart similar to that of the widow, to trust, to give liberally no matter how humble our offerings may seem.  Let this example teach us that acts of love serve to display God to the world.  May the teaching of Saint Ignatius be remembered, to manifest our love by deeds rather than words.