By Fr Francis Gonsalves, SJ –
32nd Sunday of the Year – Cycle B – November 7, 2021 ….
Readings: 1 Kgs 17:10-16; Heb 9:24-28; Mk 12:38-44
“This poor widow has put more in than all who have contributed to the treasury” (Mk)
Homily Hint: Mentioned nearly a hundred times in the Bible, a very special group in the Bible is
the widow, who is depicted as poor, sorrowful and vulnerable in society having no spouse
to support her. The Vademecum of the Synod advises: “Whatever the local circumstances,
the Diocesan Contact Person(s) are encouraged to focus on maximum inclusion and
participation, reaching out to involve the greatest number of people possible, and especially
those on the periphery who are often excluded and forgotten.” [See n.1.5.1] So, let us focus
on the generosity of two widows who can teach us valuable lessons, today.
The ‘less’ whom God loves more:
- Today’s readings put us in touch with those who experience a ‘lack’ in life—who, for no fault
of theirs, have or are ‘LESS’ than you and me: homeless, jobless, moneyless, friendless,
aimless, etc. The first and third readings focus on one of such groups—the so-called
‘anawim’—that enjoys God’s preferential option and protection: widows, since they are
‘spouseless’ (Deut 10:18; Ps 146:9). The other two groups that enjoy God’s special favour are
the orphans (parentless) and strangers (friendless). The plight of widows in ancient Israel was
pathetic. A widow would often have to beg for food for herself and her children. Remember
the widow Naomi and her widowed daughter-in-law, Ruth, in the ‘Book of Ruth’? Returning
to Bethlehem with Ruth, Naomi cries out, “No longer call me Naomi, (which means
‘pleasant’), instead, call me Mara, a name that means ‘bitter’” (1:20). Ruth and Naomi—both
widows—survive on salvaging leftovers in the barley fields after harvesters finish their work.
The poor widow who gave all and got more
- The widow of Zarephath in the first reading struggles to fight famine. She is about to cook the
last of her leftover food for herself and her son before impending death. As was the case with
other widows, no one bothers about her except God who sends Elijah to her aid. Prophet Elijah
preached in the northern kingdom between 900 and 850 BC. He makes a humble request to
her, twice: “Bring me a little water” and “Bring me a morsel of bread”. Basic food and drink.
The widow is fully aware of her utter poverty; and the fact that she has truly reached rock
bottom of her sparse resources: “… we may eat, and die.” Despite her utter poverty she
withholds nothing and gives her all. This indicates her full trust in God, and in God’s prophet.
She is richly rewarded, as, “The jar of meal was neither spent nor the jug of oil emptied.”
The might of the widow’s mite
- In our synodal journeying, reflecting upon the gospel passages of the past four Sundays, we
see Jesus having encounters with many characters along the road to Jerusalem: the rich man,
his disciples James and John, the blind man Bartimaeus and a scribe who questions him about
the greatest commandment. Today, Jesus’ teaching is directed “to the crowds” (see Preparatory
Document, nos. 17-21). Among this group of people are two ‘actors’, so to say, with
contrasting dispositions: scribes and widows. He first cautions the people about the hypocrisy of the scribes, seeking seats of honour, making long prayers in public in their efforts to show
themselves as holier than the others. Jesus condemns their external observances in matters of
law, rites and rituals and points out to their insensitivity towards those who are on the margins
of society. The whole purpose of their religious observances seems to be their own selves, their
own merit, forgetting that these observances must be directed towards God and their neighbour.
After this, Jesus sits opposite the temple treasury, observing all that is going on. The rich are
putting in large sums of money. By sharp contrast to the scribes and the rich, the poor widow
quietly puts two small copper coins into the temple treasury. Jesus praises her because, “Out
of her poverty she has put in everything she had, all she had to live on” (v.44). Generous,
unconditional giving! She realized that all she had was from God and gave it back with joy.
Two Texts from Tradition:
- St. John Chrysostom (349-407 AD): “Almsgiving above all else requires money, but even
this shines with a brighter luster when the alms are given from our poverty. The widow
who paid in the two mites was poorer than any human, but she outdid them all.” -
St. Bede (673-675 AD): “God weighs not the substance, but the conscience of the offerers.”
A Possible Link of the 2nd Reading to the Theme of giving ‘more’ of oneself:
The reading of the Letter to the Hebrews speaks of Christ’s ‘high’ priesthood which, ironically,
comes from ‘lowering’ himself and entering the Holy Place not with the blood of animals but with
his own blood. Jesus’ option of self-emptying becomes a model for us all who claim to be his
followers. God’s option cannot but be our ‘options’: for the poor, the victims of the pandemic,
exploited women and children, Dalits, Adivasis and so on.
Questions for Reflection and Response:
No. 5 of the ‘Areas of Lived Synodality’, namely, ‘Sharing Responsibility for Our Common
Mission’ speaks of our role and participation in the Church’s mission. Reflect on the questions:
- Among the people I know, whose ability to give impresses me as being a ‘great giver’?
- What is my personal contribution / participation in the life of my parish or my church?
- Beyond the church-circle, how much do I give of myself to people I encounter daily?
Story told by Pope Francis on True Giving: “It is about a mother with her three children. The
father was at work and the family was at table eating veal cutlets. Just then someone knocked at
the door and one of the children—the young one who was 5 or 6 years old—the oldest was 7 years
old—came and said, “Mom, there’s a beggar at the door asking for food.” And the mother, a good
Christian, said, “What should we do?” “Give him some food” they said. “Ok.” She took the fork
and knife and cut each person’s cutlet in half. “Oh no, Mom! Not like this! Take something from
the refrigerator!” “No, we will make three sandwiches like this!” And thus, the children learned
that the meaning of true charity means that you give not from what is left over but from what we
need. I am certain that that afternoon they were a bit hungry, but this is the way to do it.”
In his book ‘The Prophet’ Kahlil Gibran writes, “You give but little when you give of your
possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” May we learn lessons of
unconditional, generous giving from the two widows who gave their all!
Fr. Francis Gonsalves, SJ is the Executive Secretary, CCBI Comm. of Theology & Doctrine and President, Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune and former Principal of Vidyajyoti College, Delhi. He is also the Executive Secretary of the CCBI Commission for Theology and Doctrine. He has authored many books and articles and is a columnist with The Asian Age and The Deccan Chronicle national dailies.