Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 7, 2021
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 12.41-44
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 two widows whose acts of faith and generosity illuminate the path of trust and selflessness. The first widow, from the Book of Kings, finds herself on the brink of despair with her son, facing starvation. Yet, when Elijah asks her to prepare a meal for him first, she trusts in God's promise. Her obedience leads to a miracle, as her flour and oil never run out, sustaining her through the famine. This story underscores the reward of unwavering faith and trust in divine providence.
The second reading from Hebrews shifts our focus to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ. Unlike the annual sacrifices of the high priest, Jesus's sacrifice was once and for all, eradicating sin and opening the way to salvation. This emphasizes the completeness and uniqueness of Christ's offering, highlighting His role as the eternal high priest who intercedes for us in heaven.
In the Gospel, Jesus observes the offerings at the temple and commends a poor widow who gives her last two coins. While others give from their abundance, her offering, though small in amount, is immense in sacrifice. Jesus teaches us that true generosity is not measured by quantity but by the depth of one's commitment and trust in God.
These readings weave together themes of faith, trust, and selfless giving. The widows, though in different contexts, both demonstrate a profound trust in God's providence. Their stories challenge us to reflect on our own relationship with God, encouraging us to give generously, not just from our surplus, but from our very selves. In a world often driven by self-interest, these widows remind us that true faith leads to selfless giving and unwavering trust in God's plan. Let us strive to emulate their example, trusting in God's provision and giving with hearts full of faith and love.