Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time_B - Only In God_110421

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Only In God”

 Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

In the course of today’s readings, we encounter several women who have remarkably strong faith. They are women whose actions demonstrate their dependence upon God to provide for all their needs, even for the most basic necessities of life! We know neither of their names only that they share a common bond, that of widowhood. Being a widow was tantamount to being assigned to a most difficult and arduous station of life in the patriarchal society of the bible, and it remains such to this day. The loss of a husband meant a life of poverty. It reduced a woman to a life of begging and dependency upon the acts of charity from others in the community.

Despite her direful plight, the first widow we encounter in the Book of Kings offers the Prophet Elijah hospitality. She and her young son have only a “handful of flour… and a little oil” and that’s it. The widow and her son are themselves far beyond the bounds of destitution and yet she willingly makes “a little cake” for the Prophet leaving nothing for herself and her son! Yet, “the jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry!”

In the Gospel Jesus notices what’s taking place at the Temple offering. “Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.” Jesus comments that this woman did not contribute from her wealth as the others did, “but from her poverty…she contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.”

These women teach us of a deep and trusting faith in God, lessons very appropriate for us today. They teach us not from their head, but from their heart and from their deep-seated experiences of life. Do we give to others from our surplus or from our need? This is a difficult question for us to face honestly as we tend not to reflect too deeply into our own possible shortcomings but, it is an area that is certainly worth the effort. If we spend some time thinking about this question it may lead us to reflect on an underlying struggle we face often in this life – that is, how much do we really trust that God will be there in our time of need, whatever that “need” might be.

There is an aspect to these widow’s faith that reflects Christ’s complete self-giving, his pouring himself out completely for our sake, Christ’s “kenosis” as St. Paul writes in Philippians 2:7, in which Christ surrenders his own will to the divine will of his Father. This complete giving of self is a gift from God that scripture reveals mostly in the lives of the poor and lowly ones, such as these widows we encounter today. They teach us that God cannot be outdone in generosity. Their strong faith enables them to trust God completely, to trust “only in God” and “in all things,” not only for all the necessities of the present moment but for all our future needs also.

May our faith grow like that of these two women we meet in scripture today so that like them, we are willing to share generously the gifts we have receive from above.

Enjoy the day!
Deacon Tom

Image credit: wikimedia.org-Hand_gottes.jpg

Thirty-scond Sunday in Ordinary Time - Spiritually Prepared_110820

Deacon Tom Writes,

"Spiritually Prepared”

Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Science is gaining extraordinary insight into the cosmos in which we live. The Hubble telescope gives us fantastic images of worlds, stars, and galaxies hundred of million, even billions of light years away, images of universes and suns being born and dying. Scientists listen to ultra sound waves rippling through space containing the first heart beat from creation. As the search the heavens they perceive the reality that all that exists out there once had a beginning and one day will come to an end. 

That big picture, that notion that all existence is limited and finite escapes us for the most part as we go about our daily lives. Sure, we may see NOVA or a science fiction movie that depicts the end of the world. But, the thought that the days of our lives and those of our loved ones and friends are numbered is something that gets overshadowed by our need to provide for today. Let’s face it! Today we are confronted with numerous challenges that consume our time, energy and resources. There is little desire or capacity to consider that the days of our lives are numbered.  

We are living through extraordinary times. People are dying from a virus for which there is currently no cure. People who had planned to be on vacation, visiting friends and relatives for Thanksgiving and Christmas, who had things to do, weddings and anniversaries to attend, people to see… good things, all good things, planned for events in advance and written them down in their calendars, have had these plans canceled. They have succumbed to this dreadful virus. Many people now are dying alone and alienated from everyone they loved and who loved them in return. They didn’t plan it; it just happed. Hopefully, some were prudent and stored up treasures in heaven in anticipation of the brevity of their lives. Others, without doubt, made no such provision.  

When it comes to the things of this world, we put much effort into planning how to acquire the things we want. We work, we save, we make sacrifices to get them. That’s fine! There is nothing wrong with possessions. The problem is not that we own them but when they “own” us; when they become the center of our lives to the exclusion of other “important” needs and responsibilities.  

In today’s gospel, St. Matthew presents an image whereby He contrasts the two groups of Virgins: those who have thoughtfully planned for and are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Bridegroom, and those whose plans were incomplete and inadequate. Those Virgins who needed to run off and buy oil to welcome the Bridegroom are exposed for failing to anticipate and adequately prepare for when the Guest of Honor appeared. The message here is don’t be caught off guard for that which we should be prepared. 

Our reading from the Book of Wisdom is our guide on how to prepare ourselves for an eventuality we will all face: that last moment of our lives, when this world fades away and we stand on the edge of the life to come. By befriending and loving wisdom, by keeping vigil with her and following her ways we keep our spiritual goal remains before us as we journey through this life. Death will not catch us unprepared; Wisdom will remind us to store up treasures in heaven so that we will be ready when the Bridegroom calls us to share His Wedding Banquet. 

Enjoy the day!
Deacon Tom

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