Gospel: November 10, 2024
November 10, 2024 (Sunday)
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Psalter: Week 4 / (Green)
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 146: 7, 8-9, 9-10, (1b)
Praise the Lord my soul!
1st Reading: 1 Kings 17: 10-16
2nd Reading: Hebrews 9: 24-28
Gospel: Mark 12: 38-44
As he was teaching, he also said to them, “Beware of those teachers of the law who enjoy walking around in long robes and being greeted in the marketplace, and who like to occupy reserved seats in the synagogues and the first places at feasts. They even devour the widow’s and the orphan’s goods while making a show of long prayers. How severe a sentence they will receive!”
Jesus sat down opposite the Temple treasury and watched the people dropping money into the treasury box; and many rich people put in large offerings. But a poor widow also came and dropped in two small coins.
Then Jesus called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all those who gave offerings. For all of them gave from their plenty, but she gave from her poverty and put in everything she had, her very living.”
Lectio Divina:
Read: While teaching, Jesus gave his warning about the teachers of the law. The teachers of the law would always want recognition. While pretending to be prayerful, they would devour the houses of the widows. Jesus also warned the teachers of the law themselves of the judgment they would receive.
Afterward, Jesus sat down opposite the temple treasury while watching the people as they dropped money in the treasury box. Many rich people put in large amounts but the poor widow put in two small coins. Jesus called his disciples and told them that the poor widow dropped into the treasury more than all those who put in large offerings. Others gave from surplus. The poor widow put in everything she had.
Reflect: Generosity is when we give something as an expression of what is good in us. Hence, it is always other-oriented. It is not self-focused. If we give something out of surplus because we simply want to feel good about the thought of being good, then it is not generosity at all. What the poor widow did, giving everything, she had, is the exact opposite of what the religious leaders and rich people were doing in the time of Jesus. One can exploit the poor and give away their surplus in order to feel good. Such is unchristian.
Pray: Let us pray that God will grant us the grace that we may become more generous.
Act: Let us share something to a poor person that is not merely out of our surplus but out of our generosity.
