Sunday Gospel Reflection, November 7, 2024: She, from her poverty, has contributed all she had...

She, from her poverty, has contributed all she had… 

How strong is our trust in the Lord?

    In the First Book of Kings, God directs Elijah to go to Zarephath, a town in Gentile territory. A terrible drought has caused famine in the land, but the Lord has instructed a widow there to feed Elijah. When Elijah meets the widow and asks, Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink… and a bit of bread, the woman responds, As the Lord, your God, lives, I have nothing, yet she does as he asks! How interesting that this woman not only is familiar with but also trusts Elijah’s God enough to do what he has instructed her. Her trust will be rewarded when Elijah promises that her jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry. The widow of Zarephath’s faith opens God’s ability to act in her life more profoundly. Perhaps she would, as Psalm 146 says, praise the Lord, now having irrefutable proof that the God of Elijah sustains the fatherless and the widow, among others. 

    The fate of widows had not improved by Jesus’ time. In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus warns the crowds that the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept seats of honor in synagogues also devour the houses of widows! Jesus then observes how the crowd puts money into the temple treasury. These are not taxes but donations, and the larger the donation, the louder the sound the coins make as they go into the donation box. Although the rich scribes put in large sums, their gift is nothing compared to that of a poor widow who puts in two small coins worth a few cents. Where they give from their surplus, she contributes all she has, a sign of her complete and utter trust in the Lord to take care of her. Having given away her freedom, the widow’s hands are empty and open to receive from the hand of God. 

    The Letter to the Hebrews reminds us that Jesus himself will likewise give away all he has, offering himself once for all, to take away sin by his sacrifice. We are assured that he will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him. We have but to trust, as the widows did, and to wait eagerly for his return! 

This post is based on Fr. Pat’s Scripture class. 
Image source: www.wordclouds.com