Daily Readings - Sun Nov 07 2021
1 Kings
10So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, "Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?"11As she was going to get it, he called, "And bring me, please, a piece of bread."12"As surely as the LORD your God lives," she replied, "I don't have any bread-only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it-and die."13Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son.14For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land.'"15She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family.16For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.
Hebrews
24For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence.25Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own.26Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.27Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,28so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Mark
41Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.42But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.43Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.44They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on."
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.