Thirty Second Sunday of the Year: B: November 7, 2021

            THE JOY OF GIVING 

First Reading: 1 Kings 17: 10-16

Second Reading: Hebrews 9: 24-28

Gospel Reading: Mark 12: 38-44

   *First reading is from the first book of Kings. The total self-giving of  a poor widow from Zarephath is narrated. During the famine in the land, she generously provided food to Prophet Elijah from the little she had. She had very little food at her disposal for her son and herself. Yet at the request of Elijah she cooked what little she had and offered it to him. God rewarded her generosity. She and her household had food till the famine was over.

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Hebrews. Jesus the High Priest offered His own blood to save humankind. A perfect distinction between the sacrifices offered by the high priests of Old Testament and the non-repeatable and perfect self-sacrifice of Jesus Christ is explained. Christ our High Priest offered Himself in sacrifice once and for all and His sacrifice is of infinite value. Moreover He will appear again to save those who are waiting for Him. 

The generosity of a poor widow                                                                                Today's Gospel reading is from St. Mark. Jesus gives us a specific example of generosity in action. Jesus and His disciples were at the Jerusalem temple. He was sitting near the temple treasury and watching many rich people putting money into the treasury. He observed a poor widow putting two copper coins (which had very little value) into the treasury. Observing this Jesus praises the poor widow who, He says, "has put in everything she had, her whole living." This is a lesson for all of us that we should be generous in all situations. It was once told by St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, "Give until it hurts, until you feel the pain." And Jesus Himself said, "Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over will be put into your lap." - Luke 6: 38. Hence today's first reading from the first book of Kings and the Gospel passage give us powerful messages regarding the need for generosity to God and to our fellow humans. Generosity does not go unrewarded when it is done out of love and concern. The widow of Zarephath and the widow at the Jerusalem temple are great models of generosity. Today Jesus invites us to be generous givers. 

"The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving." - Albert Einstein

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." - Sir Winston Churchill

"God loves a cheerful giver." - 2 Corinthians 9: 7