Until it Hurts

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

11 November 2018

First reading                                                                  1 Kings 17:10-16
Elijah set out and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink.” As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” But she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.”
Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord the God of Israel: The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth.”
She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days. The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil ail, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.

Second reading                                                     Hebrews 9:24-28

For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but he entered into heaven itself, now to appear in God’s presence on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Holy Place year after year with blood that is not his own; for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Gospel                                                                     Mark 12:38-44

Jesus taught his disciples and said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Reflection

By Benj Santiago

“For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.”

How do we practice giving? How do we give tithes? In both the Old Testament and Gospel readings of today, two old and poor widows are made as models of how to give. The first widow did not hesitate to give and serve Elijah with whatever they have left. Even to the point that all she got is just enough for their last meal and “that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” I could not believe she still managed to give. The other poor widow whom Jesus and His disciples observed giving offering, also unbelievably gave almost everything she has, and not from her excesses!

Many years back, I am also like those who only give from what is in excess. And it was so small compared to the blessings I received. Thus, in spite of my huge income, I was still financially struggling and burdened which so much debts. Then, I learned from Bro. Bo Sanchez to give at least 10% of my income as tithes. Blessings started to come. In about 3 ½ years, we were able to get out of our bad debts! Just like the widow in the First Reading, “and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.  And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke by Elijah.”

Prayer

Lord, heavenly Father, teach us each moment how to give without counting the cost. Teach us to be generous with our time, talents, and treasure to people we encounter. Teach us to give and serve until it hurts. We ask this in Jesus name, Amen!