Gospel Reflection Nov 10 – Kim VanHuffel
Sunday, November 10
Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mk 12:38-44
Gospel:
In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds,
“Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes
and accept greetings in the marketplaces,
seats of honor in synagogues,
and places of honor at banquets.
They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext
recite lengthy prayers.
They will receive a very severe condemnation.”
He sat down opposite the treasury
and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury.
Many rich people put in large sums.
A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.
Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them,
“Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more
than all the other contributors to the treasury.
For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had,
her whole livelihood.”
Gospel Reflection:
Have you ever known anyone who has a completely different demeanor in public than they do in private? Well, at least we’ve all seen this person in a movie or two. Smiling and kissing babies.
The thing is that their behavior is all about motive. We might not be able to see if they are “faking it,” but God sure can. In fact, God was sitting outside the temple observing all that was happening in our story. He begins by condemning the Scribes because they present themselves as holy but actually take advantage of poor widows, misuse prayer and use their position for personal gain. They also put the donation baskets out in public, making it something of a show and a competition. And the rich people pass the baton one to another to win that competition. Their motives were all wrong.
On the other hand, we have one of these poor widows who gives all that she has, her “entire livelihood” to the treasury. Jesus sees her gift and her motive as one of love and true faith. She is giving all that she has as a pure gift to God. Jesus knows her situation and was sitting there that day to teach his disciples (and us) what true sacrifice really looks like. It isn’t about money and it isn’t about gaining power. It certainly isn’t about using people for personal gain. It is about love.
Our motives matter. Yes, we should give money to the poor, but not with a motive of a tax write-off or so someone important will see the gift. It needs to first be a pure gift out of love. That’s what true charity is. Charity may necessarily involve money sometimes, but it always needs love. And out of love Jesus gave his “entire livelihood” for that widow, for the lowly and pure of heart, and for us.
God bless,
Kim VanHuffel
Pastoral Associate