Saint Rita Catholic Church and School in Webster, NY - An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings

“She, From Her Poverty, Contributed All She Had”

Our readings today offer us a glimpse into the world of the poorest of the poor who give to God all that they have. They are our models of offering to God everything we have.

In our first reading from the first Book of Kings (1 Kings 17:10-16), the prophet Elijah had proclaimed a drought in the land of Israel because of their evil deeds and idol worship. God then commanded Elijah to travel to Zarephath of Sidon. There he encountered a poor widow who shared with him her last meal, even as she and her son were about to die of famine. God rewarded her and her son with an abundance of oil and flour for the next year until the rains came and the drought ended.

In our Epistle reading (Hebrews 9:24-28), we hear a continuation of the Letter to the Hebrews from the past few weeks. In it, we hear the continuing contrast between Jesus, our eternal high priest, and the earthly high priests of Israel. They entered a man-made sanctuary, while Jesus enters the heavenly sanctuary, into the presence of God on our behalf. They offered imperfect sacrifices, first for their own sins, then for others. Jesus, the unblemished lamb, offers the perfect sacrifice - himself. They offered continual sacrifices year after year. Jesus offers himself once, for all.

In our Gospel reading (Mark 12:38-44), we hear of a poor widow who gave to the temple treasury everything she had, which was two small coins. This was in contrast to the scribes and the rich people who gave large sums, but only out of their surplus wealth. Jesus called attention to the poor widow as a model for us.

Just as Jesus offered everything He had, His very self, in atonement for our sins, so too, our two widows in today's readings gave everything they had in offering to God. We are called to emulate that spirit of giving - not from our surplus wealth but from our poverty.

Perhaps we can examine our own lives — What is it we are poorest in? Is this what we are called to give?