32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

1 Kgs 17:10-16; Heb 9:24-28; Mk 12:38-44

A woman's husband dies. He had $20,000 to his name. After everything is done at the funeral home and cemetery, she tells her closest friend that there is no money left.

The friend says, “How can that be? You told me he had $20,000 a few days before he died. How could you be broke?”

The widow says, “Well, the funeral cost me $6,500. And of course, I had to make the obligatory donation for the church and the organist and all. That was $500, and I spent another $500 for the wake, food and drinks, you know. The rest went for the memorial stone.”

The friend says, “$12,500 for the memorial stone? My stars, how big was it?”

The widow says, “Three carats!

(The story is from an unknown author)

Old Jewish laws had provided no rights of inheritance for widows. The bible speaks often of widows, not of widowers, simply because the woman who was left alone was at a more difficult situation than the man who was left alone. In Hebrew, the word “widow” came to refer to someone who is silent or voiceless. Considering this fact, one cannot but appreciate what the widows in today’s readings did in the name of God.

The first reading narrates how a poor widow, in the middle of a great drought, shared generously her last family meal with the prophet Elijah. The widow had very little resources left, but she kept a big heart – enough to trust Elijah’s words about God’s faithfulness towards a gracious giver. As the prophet had declared, the widow’s bowl did not run out of flour nor did the jar run out of oil until the end of the drought.

In the gospel, Jesus points out to his disciples the humble gesture of a widow who contributed two little copper coins in the temple treasury. This poor widow offered more, says the Lord, because she gave all that she had to live on, while the others put something out of their surplus wealth.

The example of the widows reminds us that no condition or situation in life should hinder us from becoming generous and caring. God will bless and multiply the little that we can do and offer in the Church or to somebody in need.

By commending the widow who offered her few cents to the temple treasury, Jesus makes it clear that the generosity of the giver is more important than the amount of the gift. The widow’s gift was valued not by its weight but by the good will with which it was given. In the same way, we all will be judged by the Lord not by the scope of our responsibilities, but by the love we place in fulfilling our ministerial duties. Mother Teresa of Calcutta had understood this well when she said: “It is not how much you do, but how much love you put into the doing that matters.”

Jesus warns his listeners against the hypocrisy and maliciousness of some religious leaders of his time: “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers” (Mk 12:38-39).

During the time of our Lord the scribes were highly regarded by people because of their status as interpreters of the Law. On one occasion a scribe was praised by Jesus because he understood clearly that loving God and neighbor is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices (Mk 12:33). In today’s gospel, however, the Lord condemns the scribes because they devoured widows’ property under the pretext of religious fervor.

This gospel would serve as a strong reminder for all ministers in the Church, ordained and lay, to do the work of Jesus with all sincerity and humility. They are urged to serve the needs of the poor, not their own interests. To take advantage of the vulnerability of people is a serious offense that deserves condemnation from God.