32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle B
Prayer
Father, may Your will be done. Help us to remember that we have a place in Your Kingdom, where You live and reign, together with Your Son and the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.
Commentary
1st Reading: 1 Kings 17:10-16
The stage is set in our 1st reading to see an incredible miracle of God. Here, in just a few lines, we can gather that this widow of Zarephath is destitute. She has no husband and, most likely, no sibling or in-laws to
care for her and her son. We might also conclude that she is a young widow in that her son is unable to take care of himself. Assuming all of this, we can understand her despair and her willingness to die now rather than to live destitute forever.
When the prophet Elijah challenges her to place her faith in God, it appears as though she has nothing else to lose. However, with Elijah’s words, “Do not be afraid,” we can assume that she does place her faith in God.
Literally, after giving everything she has to feed the wandering prophet, her “jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry as the Lord had foretold through Elijah.”
As we consider our theme – Our Holy Kingdom – we recognize that giving all that we have to God through faith will only be met by God who gives all that He has to us, including His Kingdom.
Question:
When something goes wrong in your life, how long from that moment does it take for you to turn to God?
2nd Reading: Hebrews 9:24-28
As the widow gave her all to the prophet for the sake of her son, Christ gives his all to God for us.
Hebrews reminds us that Jesus Christ is the new High Priest who willingly lays down his own life as a priestly sacrifice to God. Unlike the High Priest of the Old Law who made a yearly atonement for God’s people, Jesus offers Himself “once for all,” and in a never to be repeated way. He passes through the heavenly sanctuary which is an everlasting atonement for us. There in heaven, he intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father.
Just as the High Priest of Old (See the Book off Leviticus) would return from the sanctuary indicating that the atonement sacrifice has been made, Christ will appear to us in Glory on the Last Day. His Second Coming will “bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.”
We are called to place our trust in Christ who continues to intercede for us until his return in glory.
Question:
Do you eagerly await Christ’s return?
Gospel: Mark 12:38-44
The obvious connection between the widows of the Gospel and 1st Reading is clear. They gave all that they had.
The point of these readings is to stress the value of the fullness of faith. We are called to have faith and to give without expecting anything in return. In fact, the wealthy in Mark’s Gospel are doing just that. We can assume that their gift is freely given and they aren’t expecting anything in return.
However, the fullness of faith is giving without any parachutes. This is illustrated by the widow who gives from “her whole livelihood.” In addition to expecting nothing in return, she spends everything she has for love of God.
Our Heavenly Kingdom is about sacrificial giving in the manner of
Christ. Losing ourselves, spending ourselves, and giving all that we have for the greater Glory of God blessedly assures us a place at God’s table.
Question:
What does your gift to God look like?
This Week’s Task
To give without expecting anything in return and without parachutes is true Christian stewardship. Our lesson on perfect stewardship comes from Jesus Christ who gave His life for us on the cross. He gave His everything.
This week, consider the many ways in which God pours out upon us His everything. If necessary, make a list:
Group Prayer
The group says the following together:
He’s given us His life. He’s given us His love. He’s given us His word. He’s given us His body. He’s given us His blood. He’s given us His glory. He’s given us His joy.
He’s given us His peace. He’s given us His grace.
Continue with Psalm 146.
Psalm
Response: Praise the Lord, my soul!
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!
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!
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!
Conclude with an Our Father
Used with permission. All rights reserved. Christ in Our Neighborhood is a Scripture program designed by Bishop John P. Dolan of the Diocese of Phoenix.