Dear Sisters and Brothers in Faith:
Today’s readings from the first Book of Kings and the Gospel of Mark provide examples of the faith of two widows in God. In the first reading we saw a poor widow who trusted Elijah’s God and risked her own and her son’s last meal before the strong possibility of starving to death. God rewarded her faith, as well as Elijah’s. In the Gospel we see a similar situation. While those who have much are seen to give for the wrong reason, the poor widow is giving all she has in a sense she is giving her whole life into God’s hands just as that first widow did. For this widow the temple is a holy place, a place of prayer. She goes to the holy place with true piety and gives herself into God’s hands.
What does that mean for us? What can we learn from our two poor widows? We learn the importance of trusting in God. The second widow illustrates how the disciples of Jesus (you and me) should live. The Pharisees wanted to be noticed when they gave money. Their concern was for appearances. On the other hand, however, the poor widow humbly gave all she had with faith that the temple needed it more than she. This widow put her life into God’s hands, just as Elijah’s widow had. She is for us a figure of a true Christian disciple a person who believes in God’s love and providence and so is able to humbly share what she has.
Which brings us to the all-important question: How may we be such Christian disciples? Can we do it? Do we have to give up our car, our home, our children’s toys, and their future college or technical education? Does it mean I should tell my family we shall be living on the street just as soon as we can give away everything we have?
No, of course not. There are so many ways we can be generous even without money. We have our time, our encouragement, our friendship. Don’t tell your family you will all live on the street. Instead, ask them how you can be generous Christian disciples together right were you are. Because it is in humility and generosity that we may all be disciples of Christ.
I hope you have a Christ-filled week!
St. Vincent de Paul, pray for us!
May the Holy Spirit always be with you.
Deacon Mike