A Few Words On "The Word"

November 12, 2006
The 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Mark 12:38-44

Give what ya' got

Ahhh, Christmas! Aren't you already getting excited? The presents, the food, the family, and, oh yeah, Jesus' birthday! It's less than two months away. Wait a minute, if it's still two months away why are we already talking about it? Christmas has a lot to do with giving gifts and, in particular, getting gifts. However, in this week's Gospel, Jesus once again turns the tables on the status quo.

Most people enjoy buying gifts for their loved ones during the Christmas season. Occasionally, family members might even pass on heirlooms or special family items: An antique clock, a piece of jewelry, etc. What makes such gifts significant is that they tell a story that includes part of who we are.

Gifts are usually more than just the item itself; they tell the receiver that we also give a part of ourselves as well. That's why giving away items we cherish to people we don't know is never easy and rarely happens. Giving the greatest gift (our self) becomes even more difficult when we fall upon hard times and feel like we have nothing, both physically and emotionally.

The readings this week show us something different and unique. The first reading and the Gospel both center upon women who are absolutely down and out. They're widows, the worst possible situation for anyone of their time period to be in. In fact, they're little better than lepers. They have no rights and no way to make money. While the righteously rich people in their society give a small part of their worth, these two widows give all that they have.

This is where it gets tough. It couldn't have been easy for the widows to give the little they had to God, especially when faced with starvation. In a way, we're also like these widows. It's never easy for us to give away the most significant gift we have either - the gift of ourselves.

That's what Jesus asks of us though. It's not about money. It's not about physical gifts. It's about us choosing to give the little we have away through service and sacrifice. We may not always feel like giving but we have a love for our neighbor and a faith in our eternal reward. In essence, Jesus pulls us through and God provides.

Reflection Question

In what ways can I go beyond giving material gifts this holiday season to actually helping those like the widow in today's Gospel Reading?

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