Word to the Wise
Sunday, November 11, 2018 - 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - B
[1 Kgs 17:10-16; Heb 9:24-28; Mark 12:38-44 or 12:41-44][Jesus] 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." [Luke]
The first scripture from 1 Kings and the gospel scripture from the Gospel According to Luke both feature widows who give all that they have to care for someone or something [temple] else. The first widow gives her last food to the prophet, Elijah. The second widow gives her last coins to the temple treasury for the upkeep of the temple. The usual amount expected of every Jew each year amounted to about two days wages - a great deal for a widow, a status considered among the most vulnerable in Jewish society.
Students who go on "mission trips" (a regular feature of campus ministry nowadays) return with stories of visiting homes of very poor families and being fed with almost all the food in the house, which may be only beans and tortillas. It is a humbling experience for them, since many of them are not accustomed to that kind of generosity either as giver or receiver! It is a generosity born of faith in God's providence. The widow in 1 Kings shows her faith and receives from Elijah a steady supply of food. The widow in the gospel no doubt found herself in the kingdom of God because of Jesus' notice.
The two stories are not about supporting the clergy or building up the church maintenance fund. They are about the relationship of faith and generosity. We Dominican friars are very much aware that the generosity of friends and benefactors makes our life possible. Throughout my initial formation as a friar in training for priesthood, I heard it said that the St. Jude fund in Chicago was paying for my education. Anyone who is charged with pastoral duty at a building location knows that the lights go on and the heat and air conditioning operate only through the generosity of parishioners. The relationship that gives rise to the generosity is first with God and only then with us who serve, but we who serve need to show the same generosity in our service. The widows are watching! AMEN