Daily Readings - Sun Nov 11 2018

¹⁰So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, "Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink."¹¹And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, "Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand."¹²And she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die."¹³And Elijah said to her, "Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son.¹⁴For thus says the LORD the God of Israel, 'The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'"¹⁵And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days.¹⁶The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elijah.

Hebrews

Chapter 9

²⁴For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.²⁵Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own,²⁶for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.²⁷And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,²⁸so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Mark

Chapter 12

³⁸And in his teaching he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces³⁹and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts,⁴⁰who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation."⁴¹And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums.⁴²And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny.⁴³And he called his disciples to him and said to them, "Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box.⁴⁴For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter powerful lessons on trust, faith, and the true measure of generosity. The first reading from 1 Kings presents Elijah and the widow of Zarephath, a story of profound trust in God's providence. Despite her poverty, the widow, with only a handful of flour and a little oil, trusts Elijah's words and shares what little she has. Her faith is rewarded as God provides abundantly, ensuring her flour and oil never run out. This story reminds us that trust in God, even in times of scarcity, can lead to unexpected abundance. The second reading from Hebrews shifts our focus to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, who offered himself once for all sins. This passage emphasizes the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice, highlighting that His offering was not repetitive but once for all. It underscores the depth of God's love and the completeness of Christ's work on our behalf. This theological truth invites us to reflect on the trust we place in Christ's sacrifice and how it shapes our understanding of God's plan. In the Gospel, Mark presents Jesus' critique of the scribes and His praise for the poor widow who gave her last coins. Jesus condemns the hypocrisy of those who exploit the vulnerable while appearing righteous. In contrast, the widow's humble and selfless offering, despite her poverty, is commended as a true expression of faith. This passage challenges us to examine our own giving and living, reminding us that true generosity comes from the heart, not from abundance. These readings weave together themes of trust, faith, and selfless giving. Elijah and the widow of Zarephath teach us to trust God even in hardship, while Christ's sacrifice shows us the ultimate trust in God's plan. The widow in Mark exemplifies giving from the heart, regardless of circumstances. As we reflect on these readings, let us cultivate a deeper trust in God's providence, embrace the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice, and live with hearts open to generous and selfless giving. May our faith be strengthened as we learn to trust and give in ways that honor God.