Cycle B, Year II
11 November 2012: 32nd Sunday in
Ordinary Time
(Liturgical color: Green)
Mark 12:38-44
The joy of giving!
Some time ago, the Philippine Central Bank made public its plan to use our international dollar reserves for loans to other developing countries through the World Bank. The usual critics castigated the P-Noy administration for not using the money to help instead poor Filipinos.
But if such kind of parochial attitude were shared by the global community of nations, then no nation would have helped the Philippines with similar loans in time of our own need in the past. Such attitude is also "un-Filipino", because Filipinos are known for being generous and kind. In fact there is a wise Filipino dictum which says: Walang mahirap na hindi kayang magbigay; walang mayaman na hindi nangangailangan! (There is no one so poor that he/she cannot share; there is no one so rich that he/she does not need anything more!)
The Gospel this Sunday teaches us the joy of giving. Jesus praises a poor widow who gave "two small coins worth a few cents" to the temple treasury, and her contribution is all that she has. In contrast, many rich people put in large sums, but these are surplus of their wealth.
To appreciate the heroic act of the poor widow, we need to understand that widows and orphans in the Bible represent the weak and defenseless of the world, those with little support for themselves and with no security in daily living.
Thus, we are struck by the sheer faith of the woman to give what little she has, and she gives it all. It means she has such deep trust in God's providence, trusting that He will provide for her in her time of need.
In other words, the true essence of giving is when we give from the heart, and not from the excess of our wealth. The true essence of giving is when we silently give and choose to remain a nameless giver. Because it is not the size of the gift which measures its value but the depth of the self-gift from where it comes.
The readings this Sunday challenge us to reflect upon how we measure our own giving, not simply of money and material possessions, but of our very self to the Lord. They serve to remind us that authentic generosity involves sacrifice, a giving that exacts something of us. Because true giving is also measured not so much in raw amount as in the cost to the giver.
Of course we acknowledge our personal limitations when sharing with others. But precisely we are also called to deepen our trust that, like the widow's two small coins, what we have to offer, when given generously and with sincerity from the heart, is of immense and lasting value in the eyes of God.
The widow in the Gospel is the model for the radical demand of discipleship: she gives her all. Let us pray that her example inspire us all to true generosity: to give generously of ourselves to God and for the good of others.
A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.
(Liturgical color: Green)
Mark 12:38-44
The joy of giving!
Some time ago, the Philippine Central Bank made public its plan to use our international dollar reserves for loans to other developing countries through the World Bank. The usual critics castigated the P-Noy administration for not using the money to help instead poor Filipinos.
But if such kind of parochial attitude were shared by the global community of nations, then no nation would have helped the Philippines with similar loans in time of our own need in the past. Such attitude is also "un-Filipino", because Filipinos are known for being generous and kind. In fact there is a wise Filipino dictum which says: Walang mahirap na hindi kayang magbigay; walang mayaman na hindi nangangailangan! (There is no one so poor that he/she cannot share; there is no one so rich that he/she does not need anything more!)
The Gospel this Sunday teaches us the joy of giving. Jesus praises a poor widow who gave "two small coins worth a few cents" to the temple treasury, and her contribution is all that she has. In contrast, many rich people put in large sums, but these are surplus of their wealth.
To appreciate the heroic act of the poor widow, we need to understand that widows and orphans in the Bible represent the weak and defenseless of the world, those with little support for themselves and with no security in daily living.
Thus, we are struck by the sheer faith of the woman to give what little she has, and she gives it all. It means she has such deep trust in God's providence, trusting that He will provide for her in her time of need.
In other words, the true essence of giving is when we give from the heart, and not from the excess of our wealth. The true essence of giving is when we silently give and choose to remain a nameless giver. Because it is not the size of the gift which measures its value but the depth of the self-gift from where it comes.
The readings this Sunday challenge us to reflect upon how we measure our own giving, not simply of money and material possessions, but of our very self to the Lord. They serve to remind us that authentic generosity involves sacrifice, a giving that exacts something of us. Because true giving is also measured not so much in raw amount as in the cost to the giver.
Of course we acknowledge our personal limitations when sharing with others. But precisely we are also called to deepen our trust that, like the widow's two small coins, what we have to offer, when given generously and with sincerity from the heart, is of immense and lasting value in the eyes of God.
The widow in the Gospel is the model for the radical demand of discipleship: she gives her all. Let us pray that her example inspire us all to true generosity: to give generously of ourselves to God and for the good of others.
A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.
Deo Optimo Maximo
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