First Reading 1 Kings 17:10-16
Through Elijah, a widow and her son are blest with enough flour and oil to supply them for a year.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 146:7,8-9 9-10
A prayer of praise to God who raises up the lowly
Second Reading Hebrews 9:24-28
Christ died once to take away sin; he will return again to bring salvation.
Gospel Reading
Mark 12:38-44 (shorter form, Mark 12:41-44)
Jesus notices a poor widow’s offering and commends her great sacrifice.
Background on the Gospel Reading
The context for today’s Gospel continues to be mounting tension between Jesus and the Jewish authorities. Mark reports some of Jesus’ teaching in the Temple area in today’s reading and in the preceding verses not included in our Lectionary sequence. In the first part of today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus warn the crowds not to follow the example of the scribes in seeking honor and attention from others. It is important to recall that Mark indicates that Jesus taught these things while in the vicinity of the Temple in Jerusalem. Mark is setting the stage for Jesus’ passion.
Jesus then observes how Jewish pilgrims are making their contributions to the temple treasury. The Temple in Jerusalem was the center of Jewish worship in the time of Jesus. It was expected that observant Jews would make pilgrimages to the Temple to offer prayer and sacrifices. Pilgrims were also expected to make a financial contribution to the temple treasury.
As we would expect to be the case, Jesus observes that those who were rich contributed large sums to the treasury. Those with less means made smaller contributions. A similar situation exists in most of our parishes as well. Jesus calls attention, however, to a poor widow who makes the smallest of contributions—two coins of little value. Jesus upholds the poor widow’s offering for his disciples’ consideration, commending her because her small offering was an act of profound generosity, giving from her livelihood rather than her surplus.
To give from our livelihood is not only an act of generosity, it is also an act of trust in God. We can only give from our need if we trust that God will provide for us. Jesus himself demonstrates the ultimate act of generosity and trust in God as he gives his life for us on the cross.
October 25 -Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A
October 18 - Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary time Year A
September 11 - Twenty Eighth Sunday In ordinary time Year A
September 04 - Twenty Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
September 27 - Twenty Sixth Sunday in ordinary Time Year A
September 20 - Twenty fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A : God's generous mercy
September 13- Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time :
September 6 - Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time :
August 30 - Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time :
August 23 - Twenty first Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 16 - Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 9 - Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time :
August 2 - Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time : Small is Great
July 26 – Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time : There's no way to measure what Jesus is worth
July 19 – Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time : God gives many chances
July 12 - Fifteenth Sunday of the Ordinary Time: God’s Word
July 5 – Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time : Being gentle
June 21 - Feast of Sts Peter and Paul : To love Jesus in life and in death
June 14 - Corpus Christi - The Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ
June 7 - Trinity Sunday : God's Love overflows
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Hello Heaven Podcast
Cast The Word
Let Me Be Frank | Bishop Frank Caggiano’s Podcast | Diocese of Bridgeport, CT
The Kingdom Power Fellowship Podcast
The Bible Recap
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)