Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
It-32 Ħadd matul is-Sena - Sena'B'
Messalin
B pp 509
In
those days, Elijah the prophet went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the entrance
of the city, a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her,
"Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink." She left to get
it, and he called out after her, "Please bring along a bit of bread."
She answered, "As the LORD, your God, lives, I have nothing baked; there
is only a handful of flour in my jar and a little oil in my jug. Just now I was
collecting a couple of sticks, to go in and prepare something for myself and my
son; when we have eaten it, we shall die." Elijah said to her, "Do
not be afraid. Go and do as you propose. But first make me a little cake and
bring it to me. Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son. For
the LORD, the God of Israel, says, 'The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor
the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the
earth.'" She left and did as Elijah had said. She was able to eat for a
year, and he and her son as well; the jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, as the LORD had
foretold through Elijah.
L-Ewwel Qari - mill-Ewwel Kbtieb tas-Slaten. 17, 10-16
F'dak iż-żmien, il-Profeta Elija qam u rħiela lejn
Sarefta. Kif wasal ħdejn il-bieb
tal-belt, kien hemm waħda armla tiġbor
il-ħatab. Elija sejħilha u qalilha:
"Jekk jogħġbok, ġibli
f'bieqja belgħa ilma x'nixrob!" Hi u sejra, Elija raġa' sejħilha u
qalilha: "Ġibli wkoll, jekk jogħġbok, kisra ħobż f'idejk!" Hija wieġbet: "Daqskemm hu ħaj il-Mulej, Alla tiegħek,
ma għandi xejn maħbuż; qabda dqiq f'ġarra
u ftit żejt fil-kus kulma baqagħli. Ara,
qiegħda niġbor biċċtejn ħatab; issa nħejji xi ħaġa għalija u għal ibni; u mbagħad nikluha u mmutu." Elija wieġeb: "La tibżax, mur u agħmel kif għidtli; imma qabel
agħmel ftira żgħira għalija, u ġibhieli. Imbagħad agħmel għalik u għal
ibnek. Għax din hi l-kelma tal-Mulej, Alla ta' Israel
Responsorial
Psalm -
Psalm 146:7, 8-9, 9-10
R. (1b) Praise the Lord, my soul! or: Alleluia.
The
LORD keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free. R/
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free. R/
The
LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;
the LORD loves the just.
The LORD protects strangers. R/
The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;
the LORD loves the just.
The LORD protects strangers. R/
The
fatherless and the widow he sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion,
through all generations.
Alleluia. R/
Salm Responsorjali -
Salm145 (146)
R/ Faħħar, ruħ tiegħi, il Mulej.
Il-Mulej jagħmel ħaqq lill-maħqurin,
u jagħti l-ħobż
lill-imġewħin.
Il Mulej jeħles
lill-imjassrin. R/
Il-Mulej jiftaħ
għajnejn l-għomja.
Il-Mulej
jerfa' lill-milwijin,
Il-Mulej iħobb
lill-ġusti.
Il-Mulej iħares
lill-barranin. R/
Il-Mulej iżomm
lill-iltim u lill-armla,
imma lill-ħżiena
jħarbatilhom triqathom.
Il-Mulej
isaltan għal dejjem,
Alla tiegħek,
Sijon,minn
Reading
2 - Hebrews 9:24-28
Christ
did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one, but
heaven itself, that he might now appear before God on our behalf. Not that he
might offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters each year into the
sanctuary with blood that is not his own; if that were so, he would have had to
suffer repeatedly from the foundation of the world. But now once for all he has
appeared at the end of the ages to take away sin by his sacrifice. Just as it
is appointed that human beings die once, and after this the judgment, so also
Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time,
not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.
It-Tieni Qari - mill-Ittra lill-Lhud 9, 24-28
Kristu ma daħalx f'santwarju magħmul b'idejn
il-bnedmin, li hu biss xhieda tas-santwarju veru, imma daħal fis-sema stess, biex issa jidher għalina
quddiem Alla. U daħal hemm mhux biex minn
Gospel - Mark
12:38-44
In
the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds, "Beware of the
scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the
marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets.
They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext recite lengthy prayers. They
will receive a very severe condemnation." He 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."
L-Evanġelju - skond San Mark 12, 38-44
F'dak iż-żmien,
Ġesu' kien qiegħed jgħallem u jgħid: "Iftħu għajnejkom
mill-kittieba, li jħobbu jduru mat-toroq
bi lbies twal, jixtiequ min isellmilhom fil-pjazez, u fis-sinagogi joqogħdu fis-siġġijiet ta' quddiem, u fil-postijiet
ewlenin fil-pranzijiet; iberbqu ġid ir-romol,
u mbagħad għal wiċċ in-nies idumu ħafna jitolbu. Dawn jieħdu kundanna
akbar iebsa." Ġesu' kien qiegħed biswit it-teżor, iħares u jara xi flus
jitfgħu n-nies fit-teżor. Bosta għonja bdew jitfgħu ħafna. Resqet waħda armla
fqira u tefgħet biċċtejn żgħar, jiġifieri
xi żewġ ċenteżmi. Hu sejjaħ id-dixxipli tiegħu u qalilhom: "Tassew ngħidilkom,
li din l-armla fqira tefgħet iktar minn
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The Gift of the Poor
by Larry Broding
What
gifts or challenges do the poor, the homeless, or the suffering bring us?
Sometimes
we need to look at the world through different eyes. The poor give us this
chance. Instead of looking at the rich and famous, we look at those less
fortunate.
But
the poor give us another chance to look at the world in a new way. Instead of
looking down in pity, they give us the chance to look at a world where material
goods are not as important, where sharing one's daily bread is a norm, not an
exception. The story of the poor widow's offering gives us this opportunity.
And it provides the challenge to shake off any pretense money and comfort may
bring.
Jesus commented on pretentious attitudes: those of the leaders and those of the
faithful. In both cases, Jesus criticized love of appearance that had taken the
place of faith.
Everyone
I know who has ever led in ministry (including me, the author) has secretly
wanted to play to an audience. Every preacher, every teacher, has a small bit
of entertainer in them. Every minister has wanted their few moments under the
spotlight.
Of
course, this is an immature reason to serve. Many people fight the urge (some
even refuse to serve for this reason!). Many have this need fulfilled and have
move on. Many simply grow out of the need and remain for the right reason: the joy of service.
Why
did Jesus criticize the scribes directly? These men were the brightest, most
influential, and most important experts on the Law. Since Jews in Judea,
throughout the Roman Empire, and in many parts of the world lived in
self-governing enclaves, the power of these scribes could not be
underestimated. They were lawyers and judges. They were civic leaders and
legislators. Their knowledge and ability were vital to the survival and the
growth of God's chosen.
A
closer reading of the text revealed Jesus did not speak of their position and
power. No, Jesus attacked the scribes for their love of the limelight. He
slammed their love of reputation and implied they cheated the poorest of the
poor ("houses of the widows") for their own gain and the gain of
their benefactors, the wealthy. On the heels of last week's study about the
Great Commandment (Mark 12:28-34), the words of Jesus had a special sting. What
did the leaders love more, popularity or service? Self or God? The actions of
the scribes said it all.
Mark's
gospel compared the actions of the rich with the giving of a simple widow. Many
rich would take their time to give many coins, one at a time. Then a widow
entered who have the little she had. On the surface, Jesus seemed to praise the
sacrifice of the widow, who offered all she had that day to God.
However,
many scholars believe that, beneath the surface, Jesus lamented the action of
the widow. By sacrificing all she had, she became even more dependent upon
others and even more of a burden on society. In a culture where survival was
the priority, was such a sacrifice wise? Was this not an act of suicide?
In
addition, who did she give to? The temple treasury was controlled by the same
scribes Jesus criticized. The treasury funds were to be used for the poor, but,
some have charged, they were really used for the expensive lifestyle of the
scribes that Jesus detailed.
But,
who was the widow ultimately dependent upon? God. She sacrificed all in the
same way many neophyte Christians gave up social ties and economic support of
extended family to follow the Way. This poor widow represented the Christian
(just as Mary, the mother of Jesus and the widow of Joseph, embodied the
movement). Jesus pointed to the self-giving of the widow as an example for all
Christians to emulate. And he implicitly criticized the "show off"
attitude of the rich who give to build up their reputation.
Have
you recently been involved in an activity or ministry that served the poor? Are
you involved in a "corporal work of mercy?" Explain.
A
wise person once said, "We should thank the poor for the opportunity to
serve." Many well-meaning people expect thanks from the less fortunate.
But, we, who are well off, are who should lower ourselves to serve the poor, so
they can maintain their dignity. We should be the ones who say, "Thank
you" and expect nothing in return.
The
poor widow gave all she had as a gift. She also gives us a gift. The
opportunity to sacrifice our convenience, our self-centeredness, our petty
concerns to share what we have with others. To her and all like her, let us
express our gratitude.
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