Don't give the leftovers, give yourself!

Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time “B” 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, he 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 first reading and the Gospel both have examples of generous givers, both widows who had very little but gave it all. The widow of Zarephath who gave her last bit of flour and drop of oil to the prophet and the widow in the Temple who gave her last two coins to the temple treasury. It is easy to see the similarity between these two widows, but the second reading also speaks of a generous giver. Hebrews speaks of the generous donation of Jesus, who like the widows gave everything. He gave his very life so that we might have life. The widow in the book of Kings gave all she had to live on for her and her son. This wandering prophet came into her presence and she gave him all that she had. Yes, he promised her that she would not go without, but still it was a leap of faith. If you were 100 kilometers from the closest gas station would you give all of your gas to someone who asked even if he promised that your tank would never go empty? I know I wouldn’t. But this widow gives it all, and act of generosity an act of kindness. We know less about the widow in the Gospel. All we know is that Jesus observed her generosity. It wasn’t important how much she gave but rather that she gave her all: 100%! Hebrews speaks of Jesus’ sacrifice. The high priest who gives his life so that we might have life. Jesus obviously outdoes the sacrfice of the two widows. He not only gave all he had, he gave his very self completely that we might have life. What are we called to do in the face of this generosity: the widows who gave all they have; and Jesus who gave his very life! I am certainly not going to use these stories as an examples that we should give more to the Church. Afterall Jesus’ example include a criticism of the scribes, “who devour the houses of widows.” No, I believe that the readings are a call for each one of us to be generous people. You don’t have to give everything, but we must give something. One example from my life. When I got out to eat I always ask for a bag to carry my leftovers. My thought is, “this will make a good breakfast tomorrow, or, I might meet someone on the street that I can give it to.” I almost always meet someone on the street. This isn’t an example of giving like the widows, no, it is an example of giving the leftovers. Maybe the next time I go out to eat I could order two of whatever I am eating and give what I am eating to the beggar on the street. That is giving the widow’s mite. It is not just giving extra, it is giving more. We can give the widow’s mite at home. Maybe not try to be the first person to jump into the bathroom in the morning but allow someone else in first. Maybe cleaning the dirty dishes, even if the plates aren’t yours. Giving the widow’s mite might be as simple as greeting someone on the street. Learn the name of the street sweeper you see in front of your house. Not just give them a gift of 20 pesos but the gift of treating them like a human being. I sure that you all know that I am not happy with the results of the election in the United States this past week. Regardless of who won I see that those who choose Trump made a decision that was selfish. Instead of choosing to help the poor and the immigrant, they’d rather send them back to Mexico. Instead of accepting people who are different especially people who are gay or trans they choose to enact laws that would exclude them. The widows didn’t think just of themselves. They thought of others as well. Jesus didn’t die for his sake but for ours. We are called to follow the example of Jesus and the widows. We are called to generous and kind to those most in need. When we do this, we will be blest indeed!