Walking with Jesus: 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

1 Kings 17:10-16; Hebrews 9:24-28; Mark 12:38-44

No matter how much or how little I have, God calls me to give all of what I have received. I am called to give my entire life to God. This is not just because I am a Catholic priest, but because I have been created in love, sustained in that love through countless trials and difficulties by the Holy Spirit. I have been gifted to share these gifts with the people God has placed in my life. I find it a wonderful spiritual reflection during prayer to make a list of my gifts of humor, patience, caring and compassion. In humility and gratitude I must include the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord. These special gifts are given to all, and I know they are always present … I do not reflect on them nearly as often as I should. They show me how present the Holy Spirit is with me and helping me.

There also are the 12 fruits of the Holy Spirit, ways in which God is operating in my life, measuring sticks for the gifts of the Holy Spirit: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity. Satan tries to dissuade me, makes me focus on myself and what I want for me. When I am more open to Satan’s tomfoolery, I want to keep the focus on me. What happens when I do this? I am not charitable, joyful, patient, and so on. I show selfishness, I’m miserable, filled with chaos, intolerant; I’m heartless, evildoing, stingy, harsh; traitorous, with boastfulness, undisciplined. Far too often I fail to test myself to see how I'm conforming to be a person who reflects God’s love for me and my call to be “Christ’s love to others.” The readings help us delve into ourselves and to see God’s total love and the help that He gives us in living His life.

Elijah’s task as a prophet is to teach people that the God of Israel is the source of life, gifts and love. The people of Israel have preferred the life they've carved out for themselves. Elijah challenges them to turn to God … they refuse. He calls down a drought to remind them of God’s displeasure. As a result of their meanness and desire to “get even” with the prophet and God, they pursue Elijah to kill him. But He relies on the resources God has sent him to hide while continuing to be faithful. Today God commands the prophet to go to a poor widow who will provide Elijah food. She expects this last bit of flour and oil will produce the last loaf of bread she and her son will eat. Elijah tells her to trust God, and she does. Her oil jar and flour source don't dry up for a year. As God’s messenger, Elijah proclaims that the word of God that he speaks is a source of life for people who respond in faith.

The author of Hebrews continues to explain how Jesus is the perfect and eternal High Priest. The previous high priests have offered the blood of animals to appease God for their unfaithfulness. Jesus offers His own blood, and because of this, He only has to do it one time. The earlier priests offered sacrifices to atone for the sins of the people. Christ not only takes way sin by His sacrifice but brings salvation for all. Do I want to be saved and in heaven with the Lord and all of our loved ones forever?

Ideally the scribes are the interpreters of the Old Testament laws. They are to be models for the Jewish people, dedicated to honesty and justice. Today they are depicted as the opposite of what they should be. They are caught up in themselves and their rich garments and lengthy prayers, more out of prideful “greatness” and never for helping those in need. They want the money given by the widows so they can become more rich and prestigious. Their corruption and concern for only themselves receives a severe condemnation from Jesus. He shows what true giving and sacrifice is all about: the poor widow gives all she has to live on. The temple is not in dire need but this widow is. Jesus is actually criticizing the temple for what it has become in taking this widow’s money. How much do I hoard? How willing am I to help? And how willingly do I look around me for people and situations where I can make a difference?

So I reflect on:

• Littleness and abundance — what makes it so hard to be willing to be looked upon as small? What drives me to want to look important?
• The widow’s mite — what is that in our lives? What do we have to give that seems little, but is everything?

(From St. Elizabeth Ann Seton) 

Sacred Space 2021 states:

“Our age, even more than the time of Jesus, is so obsessed with image that it becomes the most important feature for our leaders, even more than their message or vision. I listen to Jesus’ words, which are such a real challenge to this culture, and to His warning to beware not to be taken in by these antics.

“Jesus proclaims that the woman who put in two small copper coins had given more than all the rich people. In a very real way it is a summary of the whole gospel, for God looks at the heart and its readiness to give generously. Do I measure my worth by my external success, or am I free to look at my heart and be ready to be generous even in my poverty? I ask God to help me look at myself and at others as He looks at us.”