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Reading 1: 1 Kings 17:10-16
Responsorial: Psalm 146:7-10
Reading 2: Hebrews 9:24-28
Gospel: Mark 12:38-44
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110721.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/
Welcome back for another edition of deacon rudy’s notes. I’m your host, Deacon Rudy Villarreal and together we’re going to break open the Word!
I’d like to share a brief reflection as I try to catch up. In today’s Gospel, Jesus points to the donation of the poor widow. His comments get right to the heart of all of our contributions to the church and to charities. He says she contributed the most because the wealthier people gave from the excess while she gave it all! (Mark 12:43-44)
She gave everything she had! Talk about trusting in God’s providence! What sort of faith she must have had to put it all in believing that God would take care of her like the poor widow from our first reading?
How easy is it for us to reach into our pockets and donate whatever loose change or few dollars we’re carrying? Jesus reminds us that we have an obligation to contribute to the church.
We need the church – the building and the staff – to nourish us with the Word and the Eucharist – to create opportunities of encounter with Christ Jesus – to walk with us on our journey of faith. We need our local churches to be there for us to celebrate our baptisms and weddings, and to mourn with us in death. We need our local churches to serve the poor and needy in our communities. We need the larger church – our dioceses and the Vatican – to train the next generation of priests and deacons; to help educate our children; to feed the hungry and to give drink to the thirsty; to clothe the naked; to visit the sick and imprisoned; to advocate for social justice. But that infrastructure costs money.
What should we give?
The Church does not interpret Scripture to suggest we should donate everything we have. Rather, the Church suggests we should allocate 10%. There are many different suggestions about how to divvy this up. The suggestion that makes the most sense to me is to give 5% to your parish; 1% to the diocese; and 4% to other Catholic or religious charities. Donations to secular or non-religious charities should be on top of the tithe.
I know that sounds like a tall order. In fact, it hurts. But I think that is what Jesus is getting at – give until it hurts and not from the loose change you find between the cushions or in your car.
Homework! Nourished by the Word of God and the Eucharist, I encourage you to reflect on the following challenge.
My brothers and sisters, Jesus invites us to support the Church in a way that may sound challenging. Ask yourself, do my contributions of time, talent and treasure come from my surplus, or from my first fruits?
I think doing our homework will help us be the intentional disciples we are called to be. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Then go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen!
You’re listening to deacon rudy’s notes. Our theme music was composed by Silent Partner. You can find all sorts of helpful information on the website at www.deaconrudysnotes.org. I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal. Join me again next weekend as we break open the Word! Peace!
Image Credit: Unknown. JPG file.
References:
1. Healy, Mary. Hebrews. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2016. Kindle.
2. Healy, Mary. The Gospel of Mark. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2008. Kindle.
3. Montague, George T. SM. Mark: A Popular Commentary on the Earliest Gospel. Steubenville, Ohio: Franciscan University Press, 1992.
Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. Christ in God’s presence on our behalf: 519, 662, 2741
2. Christ’s death once for all: 571
3. Judgment day: 678-79
4. Reincarnation: 1013
5. Judgment after death: 1021-22
6. Giving to the Church: 1351, 2043
7. Love for the poor: 2443-49
8. Greed: 2536
Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110721.cfm
Lectionary: 155
Reading 1
1 Kings 17:10-16
In those days, Elijah the prophet went to Zarephath.
As he arrived at the entrance of the city,
a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her,
“Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink.”
She left to get it, and he called out after her,
“Please bring along a bit of bread.”
She answered, “As the LORD, your God, lives,
I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar
and a little oil in my jug.
Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks,
to go in and prepare something for myself and my son;
when we have eaten it, we shall die.”
Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid.
Go and do as you propose.
But first make me a little cake and bring it to me.
Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son.
For the LORD, the God of Israel, says,
‘The jar of flour shall not go empty,
nor the jug of oil run dry,
until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'”
She left and did as Elijah had said.
She was able to eat for a year, and he and her son as well;
the jar of flour did not go empty,
nor the jug of oil run dry,
as the LORD had foretold through Elijah.
Responsorial
Psalm 146:7, 8-9, 9-10
R. (1b) Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;
the LORD loves the just.
The LORD protects strangers.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The fatherless and the widow he sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
Reading 2
Hebrews 9:24-28
Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands,
a copy of the true one, but heaven itself,
that he might now appear before God on our behalf.
Not that he might offer himself repeatedly,
as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary
with blood that is not his own;
if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly
from the foundation of the world.
But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages
to take away sin by his sacrifice.
Just as it is appointed that human beings die once,
and after this the judgment, so also Christ,
offered once to take away the sins of many,
will appear a second time, not to take away sin
but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.
Alleluia
Matthew 5:3
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Mark 12:38-44 or 12:41-44
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.”
OR:
Jesus 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.”