32nd Sunday of Ordinary Times

Today’s scripture readings present us with two stories of widows with limited resources but generous spirits. In both the central figure is a poor woman, a trailer trash woman, alone, with little resources. Yet both women gave freely of what they had.

               Our first reading will make more sense if we know that the events that are described in the readings happened during severe famine. We have to marvel at the faith of this widow. Elijah’s widow had a spirit of hospitality for the stranger. The Lord provided for Elijah’s need as the widow of Zarephath shares with him from her want. She gave and received a year’s supply of flour and oil for her generosity.

               Jesus’ widow in today’s Gospel who gives from her poverty and not from power, privilege or excess, had a spirit of humility. Though she did not have much, she did not delay contributing from what she had. She recognized the call to give to God and she did not let the possibility that her gift might appear shabby next to others deter her. For her effort she received Jesus’ praise and attention.

               The contrast with the rich is striking. They gave sizable amounts, but merely from their excess. It cost them little yet it made them appear great. Jesus dug under the surface, uncovered the injustice which was the source of their funds, and condemned them. God focuses on the purity of the gift, not on its outward appearance. The letter to the Hebrews reminds us that in Jesus, God became poor for us, offering himself to take away our sins. So, God offered up His greatest love for His great love of us. Like widows in today’s readings, we’re called to make sacrifices for others. When have you experienced the kind of hospitality Elijah received from the widow? The other of St. Mother Teresa, Drana, was a generous woman who used to care for an elderly neighbor who was savaged by alcoholism and covered with sores. “When you do good”, Drana told her daughter (Mother Teresa) “do it quietly, as if you were throwing a stone in the sea” If you have the power to make someone happy, just do it. The world needs more of that.