Thirty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Fr Dominic’s Homily
It is said that whatever you need in this life – give it away first and you will receive it back even more generously.
Jesus teaches today that real giving must come from the heart. A gift that is given with a grudge or simply for effect loses its value. But a gift given out of love, with a spirit of generosity and sacrifice, is precious.
In the Gospel today Jesus contrasts the high status of the scribes with the humility of the widow. We actually have two widows in the readings today – one in the first reading whom the prophet Elijah encounters and one in the temple who Jesus watches as she makes a donation.
They were very poor and vulnerable – they had no inheritance when their husbands died they depended completely on others.
In the temple there were different boxes for coins that went to different causes. The poor widow could have kept at least one of her coins, but instead she recklessly gave away all she had!
She gave from her poverty rather than from her surplus. She gives the last things that she had for the glory of God. And Jesus praised someone who gave such a tiny amount - because it was everything she had, it was her whole living.
What we have to offer may not seem very much, but if we put it at the Lord's disposal then he can do wonderful things for us.
In the scales of divine justice, quantity is not measured as much as the love with which it is given. Remember our being increases in the measure that we give it away.
There is a story of a desert monk who had a solid gold begging bowl that someone had given him. Now a thief was creeping up intending to snatch the bowl when the monk wasn’t looking.
The Monk knew the man was there and so picked up the begging bowl and freely gave it to him. “Here” he said “take this – I know you want it. It will give me peace rather than have you disturb me when I am trying to sleep”
The thief grabbed the bowl and ran away. Only to return sadly the next day with the bowl and to say to the monk “Give me that source of wealth you have that enables you to give this precious bowl away so freely”
How are we stewards with our money? Do we master it or are we possessed by our own possessions? It’s all about our disposition of heart and our faith in God. The amount that you need in life is the amount that you should give away.
What we keep to ourselves we end up losing but what we give away we receive back in many different ways. Remember the amount that we receive in the next world will be measured by the amount we have given away.
Jesus himself said that if you hold onto a seed it remains only that. But if you cast it into the ground it can germinate and yield a rich and bountiful harvest.
In a spiritual way sometimes we refuse to forgive people. We hold onto that resentment inside. Whereas if we can let it go and forgive, if we can cast it away, we feel enormous relief and realise that we were only holding ourselves prisoner in our selfishness. What we hold onto remains and decays.
Where we put our money in life reveals to us where our priorities are and what we really consider of value.
In that first reading Elijah meets the widow and her son who are dying from hunger because of drought. And yet he asks her for food first. Why does he do that? It is a classic test of faith. When things seem completely hopeless can we still trust in God and give of ourselves? Because if we can the rewards are bountiful.
Due to her faith in God the woman receives unlimited bread from God. Which actually represents the Eucharist and the oil the other sacraments.
The two widows may have been economically destitute yet spiritually they were rich in the eyes of God.
What small amount is the Lord asking us to offer to God today and how?
Let us give of ourselves freely and generously in gratitude for all that he has given to us.