32ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 4 / (Green)
Ps 146:7, 8-9, 9-10
Praise the Lord, my soul!
1st Reading: 1 K 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.
2nd Reading: Heb 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 afterward 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: Mk 12:38-44
As Jesus 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.”
Lectio Divina
Read: The widow who fed Elijah with food is rewarded generously by God. Jesus recognizes the generosity and sacrifice involved in the little contribution of the widow to the Temple funds and praises her. The letter to the Hebrews memorializes the supreme act of generosity of Christ for our sake.
Reflect: Absolutely nothing escapes the attention of God, as evidenced in Jesus noticing the widow’s contribution and the act of the widow of Zarephath. This can be good news and bad news! It is good news that none of our little and generous acts goes unnoticed by God who would reward us in plenty. The bad news is that none of our little or big sins escapes the attention of God either. It would be wise to take refuge in His divine mercy, for that alone can ensure us our redemption.
Pray: Lord, give me the grace to see and recognize the good in others.
Act: Recognize an act of goodness done by someone by appreciating the person for the same.
Daily Reflection 2018
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Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL
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