THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (7 November 2021)

Hymns for Mass – Press Here

FIRST READING (The widow made a little cake from her flour and gave it to Elijah.)

A reading from the first Book of Kings (17:10-16)

In those days, Elijah the prophet went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the entrance of the city, a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her, “Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink.” She left to get it, and he called out after her, “Please bring along a bit of bread.” She answered, “As the Lord, your God, lives, I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar and a little oil in my jug. Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks, to go in and to prepare something for myself and my son; when we have eaten it, we shall die.” Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid. Go and do as you propose. But first make me a little cake and bring it to me. Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son. For the Lord, the God of Israel, says, ‘The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’” The widow left and did as Elijah had said. She was able to eat for a year, and Elijah and her son as well; the jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, as the Lord had foretold through Elijah. —The Word of the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM (146:7, 8-9, 9-10)

R. Praise the Lord, my soul! (Ps 146:1b)

Or Alleluia.

The Lord keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets captives free. (R)

The Lord gives sight to the blind. The Lord raises up those who were bowed down; the Lord loves the just. The Lord protects strangers. (R)

The fatherless and the widow he sustains, but the way of the wicked he thwarts. The Lord shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia. (R)

 

SECOND READING (Christ was offered once to take away the sins of many.)

A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (9:24-28)

Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one, but heaven itself, that he might now appear before God on our behalf. Not that he might offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary with blood that is not his own; if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly from the foundation of the world. But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages to take away sin by his sacrifice. Just as it is appointed that human beings die once, and after this the judgment, so also Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him. —The Word of the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Mt 5:3)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (R)

 

(Long Form)

GOSPEL (This poor widow put in more than all the others.)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (12:38-44)

In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds, “Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation.”

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, Jesus 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.” —The Gospel of the Lord.

R. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

(Short Form)

GOSPEL (This poor widow put in more than all the others.)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (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, Jesus 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.” —The Gospel of the Lord.

R. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily

“She… has contributed all she had! 

Very few of us, when we are asked to contribute something to charity, give “until it hurts.” Actually, for some people it hurts just to give. Then when we do give, we often expect some sort of reciprocal gift or acknowledgement in return. I becomes not giving a gift but more an “exchange of gifts.” Some might claim some sort of tax duction for the gift, or some sort of matching gift; or we might even expect a memorial plaque set up as a remembrance for our generosity, or for an especially large sum of money, to have a building, or park or street named after us. The lesson is that we do not always give unselfishly, as did the two women we have just heard about in our readings.

As we know, in Biblical times widows were especially vulnerable figures. There was no social service network or workers, no advocates for this class of especially vulnerable people.  In a society where women did not earn wages or work for a living, widows and the childless – unless they had the support of a wider family – once widowed – were extremely vulnerable. This is why too, in Scripture, when the prophets talk of vulnerable people, they always speak of “widows and orphans.”  God’s great love for the “widows and orphans” demonstrates God’s overwhelming, all-encompassing, boundless love.  This love teaches us to imitate his love for the least, the most threatened, the most vulnerable.

For the first widow, despite her desperate plight and hesitation, when the prophet Elijah turns to her and promises that God will provide for her and her son,, she gives in to the prophet’s request, and prepares for him a small meal with what little she had. This widow placed her trust in the words of the prophet – and they are fulfilled. 

The widow in the Gospel did not think or know that she was being observed. Unlike some in the crowd who make a show of their temple offering, she chose to be inconspicuous. Her offering was very meagre compared to most others, but it had a greater significance because she gave out of generosity, not out of any abundance

Both of these women already hurt, but yet – they gave more. The lessons of these two stories are obvious. The first shows a clear willingness to give regardless of how small the gift might be. The GIVING DEPICTED HERE SPRINGS FROM A HEART OF GENEROSITY, not from some financial advantage or abundance. A second important lesson for us is religious devotion. The widow of Zarephath was a woman of faith. She trusted in the words of the prophet. The widow who came to the temple was also a woman of faith. She sought to do her part in temple support.

But there is also a third lesson for us, and that is the care of others.” Despite her own dismal and desperate condition, the first woman cared not only for her son who depended on her, but showed hospitality for the prophet, a stranger, for whom she had no personal responsibility. In the Gospel, some of the temple donations went for the support of the temple – feeding the priests, caring for the cleanliness of the space. These women also teach us that in genuine giving, you do not always have the opportunity to decide “how” your money will be used. One simply gives where there is need.

There are many ways and opportunities for us to “give until it hurts.” Monetary giving is one way. We can also give our care and our interest. This is not as easy as it sounds, particularly in societies that value personal advancement and satisfaction above all else, and that dismiss concerns of others as unimportant or boring compared to our own immediate interests and needs, or cultures that promote suspicion of religious or ethnic bigotry, or that tolerates violence and war. Despite the obstacles we might encounter, we can freely share our talents with others in our families, our communities, and in our parish. We can give of our TIME and our ENERGY in schools, in hospitals, in homes for the elderly, or other charitable activities. 

There are many among us who are as generous and selfless as the two widows here. They are committed to the well-being of their children. Many parents are willing to sacrifice their time and interest so that their children have what they need and some of what they want. There are people who work long hours in health care facilities making sure that the patients are tended carefully and well. Some public servants place themselves at risk in order to ensure safety. We find notable unselfishness in those who volunteer in parish communities often with little recognition or appreciation from those they serve.

The ultimate example of selfless giving is Jesus himself, who is described in our 2nd readings today as the high priest offering sacrifice as the perfect victim to God for us. Jesus gave until he had no more to give. He sacrificed his own interests for our good; he devoted himself to our healing; he gave his life that we might have life and live; and he did all this with little hope or appreciation, but he truly GAVE UNTIL IT HURT. 

We should remember the wise advice of St. Teresa of Avila, “Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours; yours are the eyes through which Christ’s compassion looks out on the world. Yours are the feet with which HE is to go about doing good and yours are the hands with which HE is to bless us now.

Prayers

CelebrantThe widow in the temple gave everything she possessed to God. Her generosity humbles us. Let us be generous in our prayers for others, responding to the God who gives without ceasing.

READER: For a better appreciation of the many works of charity and service sponsored and carried out by our Church, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: For the men and women of our diocese who volunteer to assist in the charitable outreach of our local church, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: For those whose generosity and giving to assist others is a real sacrifice, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: [SMC only… For the repose of the soul of Jacqueline Sader, for whom this Mass is offered.. (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.]

READER: In this month dedicated to the Poor Souls in purgatory, let us pray that this Mass and all Masses this month may cleanse and bring to perfection our deceased relatives and friends, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD

CELEBRANT: Most generous Lord, receive the prayers of this community, offering themselves in union with the great high priest, your blessed Son, who lives and reigns for ever and ever, (all) AMEN. 

 

 

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