Friday, November 6, 2009

32nd Sunday. November 8 2009- Commitment and toal self-giving

32nd Sunday – November 8th 2009:- Commitment and total self- giving
A pig and a chicken were walking by a church where a gala charity event was taking place. Getting caught up in the spirit, the pig suggested to the chicken that they each make a contribution.
"Great idea!" the chicken cried. "Let's offer them ham and eggs?"
"Not so fast," said the pig. "For you, that's a contribution. For me, it's a total commitment."It is a sacrifice; I need to lay down my life for them.
Commitment is the theme for today’s reflection. We see people committed for various tasks. In today’s readings we have examples of commitment to God and sharing the whole life with God and others.
The First Reading taken from the First Book of Kings narrates a touching story of a widow during the time of Israel’s famine and she places her trust in God and the prophet. She has her son who depends on her and trusts her. Reduced to absolute poverty, she is on her way to get firewood to cook a last meal for them both from a little meal and oil. She sees nothing but death before them. Then Elijah, the prophet, himself hungry, comes and asks her for water and bread. When she tells him her situation, he still asks her to make a small cake for him. In a generous act of sharing, she does so and she is rewarded by their being enough for all three of them and the jar of meal and the jug of oil does not empty until the drought is over. The message from the first reading for us is very clear that whenever we give to the other generously we get back more than we give. It tells us of the power of God who takes care of the weakest and those who place their trust in him.
Today’s Second Reading tells us that Jesus died once for all time and for all people when He made His perfect sacrifice to remove sin. In his sacrifice Jesus sheds his blood for the salvation of the world. When Jesus comes in his glory he will bring salvation to all those who wait for him that they may live fully in him. The living is those who shine as lights in the world, those who shine in love towards God and their brothers and sisters. It is a great sign of Jesus’ commitment to us and to God. There is a total self giving in his great act of sacrifice on the cross.
In the Gospel Jesus praised the poor widow who dropped two small coins in the treasury box of the Temple because she gave all she had. An interesting point we ought to note is that the treasury was actually called a trumpet. This is because it was constructed in the form of a trumpet as if to blow the horn. When the coins were dropped it made a loud noise and all came to know of the contribution a person had made to the Temple. God loves a cheerful giver, the one who is willing to part with things without any hesitation. Compassion and care for others surely prompt our own giving. The point made by Jesus is that the value of a gift is not necessarily assessed by its quantity. What is important is the heart of the giver which is self sacrificing. The widow gives out of her poverty and not out of her wealth. Perhaps like the scribes our giving may sometimes be tinged with a need for recognition or affirmation. Contributing to charitable works is important, but we can also be generous in sharing ourselves in a simple way. We reach out to those in need and giving the little we can share with others.
God always rewards those who persevere in their living faith. No one goes by unnoticed. If a person is proud, he will be noticed; if he is humble, he will also be noticed. If a person is humble like the poor widow whose name no one knows, God will notice him and raise him and reward him according to his sacrifice. The Lord Jesus, when He sacrificed Himself on the Holy Cross for our sins, He knew the will of God. All three, two widows and Jesus the high priest embraced a spiritual mind and did what was good, acceptable and perfect in the eyes of God.
Three practical applications:
1. God blesses and rewards the cheerful givers as we see in the first story of the first reading.
2. Our participation in the life of the high priest, Jesus through baptism need to remind us of the great love of God.
3. Jesus appreciates the real value of a gift not in terms of its quantity but with what an attitude and heart we give.
This Eucharist is an encounter and participation in the sacrifice of Jesus. May we be strengthened to continue the mission of Christ!