Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 11, 2018
First Reading: 1 Kings 17.10-16
10So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.11And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.12And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.13And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.14For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.15And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.16And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.
Psalm 146
1Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.2While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.3Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.4His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.5Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:6Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:7Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners:8The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:9The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.10The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.
Second Reading: Hebrews 9.24-28
24For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:25Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;26For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.27And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:28So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Gospel: Mark 12.38-44
38And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,39And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:40Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.41And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.42And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.43And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:44For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
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.