Jesus specifically denounces the scribes. demand respect from people in excessive ways.

The widow she kept nothing to herself, and she gave her all.

Similarly, St. Paul gave his absolute all to the ministry and mission he was given;

there was no remainder. in giving themselves completely.

Jesus has already told us that whoever wants to be first must be last and servant of all.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

1 Kings 17:10-16

So Elijah went to Zarephath.

On reaching the gate of the town, he saw a widow gathering sticks. He called to her and said, "Bring me a little water in a vessel that I may drink."

 

As she was going to bring it, he called after her and said, "Bring me also a piece of bread." But she answered, "As Yahweh your God lives, I have no bread left but only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am just now gathering some sticks so that I may go in and prepare something for myself and my son to eat and die."

 

Elijah then said to her, "Do not be afraid. Go and do as you have said, but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me; then make some for yourself and your son. For this is the word of Yahweh, the God of Israel, 'The jar of meal shall not be emptied nor shall the jug of oil fail, until the day when Yahweh sends rain to the earth'."

 

So she went and did as Elijah told her; and she had food for herself, Elijah and her son from that day on. The jar of flour was not emptied nor did the jug of oil fail, in accordance with what Yahweh had said through Elijah.

 

Ps 146:7, 8-9, 9-10 (16) Praise the Lord my soul!

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

Hebrews 9:24-28

Christ did not enter some sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one, but heaven itself. He is now in the presence of God on our behalf. He had not to offer himself many times, as the High Priest does: he who may return every year, because the blood is not his own.

 

Otherwise he would have suffered many times from the creation of the world. But no; he manifested himself only now at the end of the ages, to take away sin by sacrifice, and, as humans die only once and afterwards are judged, in the same way Christ sacrificed himself once to take away the sins of the multitude. There will be no further question of sin when he comes again to save those waiting for him.

 

＊＊＊ 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."

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"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 judgement they would receive.

 

Afterwards, 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 a thing 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.