Homily: Thirty-Second Sunday Ordinary Time. Year B - Sunday, 10 November 2024
Image Credit- https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/pIw0HUJrFwQg8DSbMHB2?ru=Paul-Evangelion
GOSPEL THIS WEEKEND
Readings for Thirty-Second Sunday Ordinary Time. Year B
FIRST READING: 1 Kings 17: 10-16
Ps 146: 6c-7, 8-9a, 9b-10. "Praise the Lord, my soul! "
SECOND READING: Hebrews 9: 24-28
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Matt 5: 3). Alleluia, alleluia! Happy the poor in Spirit; The Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
GOSPEL: Mark 12: 38-44 or 12: 41-44
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Thirty-Second Sunday Ordinary Time. Year B - Sunday, November 10, 2024, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-32nd
(EPISODE: 332)
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A little statistical example to show what Our Lord saw behind all the 'smoke and mirrors' show going on with many of the donors at the Temple - Imagine four people wanting to donate to the treasury. Also, imagine that before they publicly put their coins into the treasury, they first had to go to a private room and convert their donation to "special coins, " representing how much they were giving as a proportion of their total wealth. So these "special coins" would be worth 1 per cent of the person's wealth, irrespective of how much or little they were giving...
The results are very revealing:
Relatively wealthy person 1 - intending to give 1000 denarius out of his 10,000 denarius savings = is given ten coins to put into the treasury.
Very wealthy person 2 - three thousand out of his 50,000 savings = six coins
Extremely wealthy person 3 - 10,000 out of his 200,000 savings = five coins
Poor widow - for her intended donation of 3 small pennies out of her 3 penny savings - 100 coins
Notice, in this process, the wealthiest donor is not giving as much as some less well-off but still wealthy donors proportionately. And, of course, the widow is the most generous and committed by a vast margin.
No wonder our lord praises her generosity, faith and commitment -
This lady doesn't just "pip" the others by a small amount - she smashes them out of the ballpark.
If the above system were used in donations, publicly flaunting one's total would quickly be dispensed with, as it would not be as flattering to many.
This weekend in the Scriptures we come across two different types of behaviour. The scribes in the Gospel openly seek power and honour that goes with that power, and the exploitation that gains the power, whilst in comparison the humble widow in the first reading and the widow in the Gospel are generous, and they're not doing it to be taken notice of, they're giving out of their poverty. One group takes while the other group gives without counting the cost.
Are we takers or givers?
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Generosity is a very tricky thing in a culture defined by independence. We're tempted to focus on our responsibility of taking care of our own needs and the needs of those closest to us. Whilst we might not match the confidence and complete selflessness of the two widows and their trust in God, we can certainly keep growing in our desire to give much, much more than we take.
There are a couple of lines that really pinpoint the issue in the gospel. Jesus says, Beware of the scribes, they devour the houses of widows, and as a pretext, lengthy prayers. And then, This poor widow from her poverty has contributed all she had.
Things are clearly not always what they appear. The scribes were offering long and complex prayers, but according to our Lord, the motive behind these people's prayers was not (as it was meant to be) - praise of God, or to exercise God's values of justice, charity and mercy, but they were using it as a disguise, in order to allow them to more readily gobble up others' wealth or what little they had. That's really tragic and shocking.
And then in the gospel, Jesus points out the poor widow's offerings. He commends her because her very, very small offering was an act of extraordinarily profound generosity. She gave from her livelihood rather than her surplus, and she gave what was to others virtually nothing, but to her was everything.
So people wouldn't have even noticed how profound this act was. It was for God alone, and God saw it in Jesus. To give from our livelihood is not only an act of generosity, but it's an extraordinary act of trust in God.
We can only give from our need if we trust that God will provide for us everything that is really lasting. Or if we identify with others' needs as interconnected with our own destiny, for they too are our brothers and sisters, then we will reach out to help others in their need, even from our poverty. Jesus himself demonstrates the ultimate example of this complete generosity and commitment, as he gives us everything.
He sacrifices all to save us. He holds nothing back. Even his life is given for us on the cross.
God giving his life for us. God who did not need to suffer, who could have avoided it, but did not to save us. Jesus recognises the absolute fate and commitment shown by the poor widow, both of them, in the first and the gospel, as compared with the others who seem to be giving enormous amounts.
It's a real eye-opener. The people who are most consistent with the values and actions of Jesus' good news are not always the ones most noticeable. It has been observed in the past, and I believe it, that the greatest contributors to worthy charities, to people in need, to the missions, all these wonderful projects that help other people, are the mum and dad givers.
The ordinary people who are giving what they can to people who are less fortunate than ourselves. We know we're comparatively better off, but we're not certainly the wealthiest. The ones who are giving the most in terms of total dedication to Jesus' values are often not the ones who are most visible.
And today's gospel reminds us it's possible to be appearing to be doing enough and giving enough, but only God sees straight into the human heart and truly knows what we are capable of. God knows. Jesus knows the circumstances of each of our lives and values and rejoices in all that is done with what we have, irrespective of how much it amounts to in quantity or by comparison with others.
Jesus sits watching as many people come by and donate in the temple. It's extraordinary in this beautiful gospel. We're told Jesus sits and watches as people come by and donate to the temple treasury.
To the people of Israel, donating to the temple treasury was considered to be giving donations to God. Jesus is seeing what anyone else could see, or more precisely, anyone else could notice what Jesus saw if they were really looking. But only our Lord seems to see what's really happening.
There's a surprising contrast in this incident. There are those whose lives are publicly dedicated to serving God, but in actual fact they're not entirely committed to God. In essence, despite their grand show, they're holding a lot of things back.
They have a lot of money and worldly possessions and they're giving generously, but our Lord perceives that they're only giving from their excess, from what they can well spare to give whilst still having plenty left. They keep a lot more for themselves. They're not completely dedicated to the cause.
They're saving most of their possessions for themselves or for a rainy day. But how much does one need for a rainy day? That's like asking how long is a piece of string. So they keep most of what they have for themselves.
They find many excuses, good and bad, to refuse to use it for the good of others. They trust only in their own resources and not God's providence and they put their potential future needs before the real and actual needs of those right in front of them, if they bothered to notice. It's all very well for me saying I'm going to save something for a rainy day, but meanwhile I'm looking at someone who's absolutely being poured on.
Their rainy day is now and there's no time to be lost. And then there's this poor widow who's in actual need and has very little to live on, but she's utterly committed to God's vision. She has invested and trusted in God's kingdom completely and is willing to invest her trust and her time and treasure, in fact her last penny, to God's kingdom.
If everyone did that, throughout the whole world there would be no poverty, no one going without the basics of life, while others hoard more and more than their fair share for a rainy day that may never arrive. Jesus is not teaching us to be reckless or irresponsible, but he is asking us, inviting us with love to commit ourselves totally to the vision of the kingdom here and now. We're again invited to look well beyond appearances, not to judge by outward appearances, but to trust in God's providence, to not hold back our gifts, talents and generosity.
And we need to eliminate measuring the value of things in terms of quantity or by comparing ourselves to others and focusing more on quality and intention. We again realise from this gospel not to judge by earthly standards, to give from the heart and realise that everyone may be giving as much as they can, even if it doesn't seem like a lot in comparison to others, we cannot see into others hearts and minds. All of us are called to respond in trust, generosity, non-judgmental ways, and above all, love, to give 100% to the values and person of Christ.
The other beautiful thing is that Jesus really cares. He invites us to have that same attitude always. Our Lord notices the people around him and the meaning of their actions, no matter how small they seem.
He sees beyond appearances and directs his vision to what is real, and he loves it, and thanks the Father for it. Jesus not only notices the unobtrusive and humble lady, he also notices that this lady has actually handed in everything she had. Therefore, the most generous person to have donated that day, and most people would not have realised it, and even when he pointed it out, they would have said, how can that be? She's hardly given anything. Meanwhile, almost everyone else didn't realise this humble lady's profound generosity. Still, they didn't notice the injustice of the system that doesn't care about the needs of people like this, nor do anything to help them.
If this system was working according to God's desire, the money people contributed to the temple would have been given to God's beloved people precisely like her who were in need. Meanwhile, people probably didn't even notice her at all, but our Lord did.
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References:
Homily – Fr Paul W. Kelly
((1)http://www.loyolapress.com/32nd-sunday-in-ordinary-time-b-sunday-connection.htm)
Image Credit- https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/pIw0HUJrFwQg8DSbMHB2?ru=Paul-Evangelion
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To listen to the Sunday Mass each week (including homily) from Surfers Paradise Catholic Parish, please visit this link: Liturgy for you at Home (by SPCP) - https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
Also found at - https://tinyurl.com/FHLpwk
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References:
Homily – Fr Paul W. Kelly
((1)http://www.loyolapress.com/32nd-sunday-in-ordinary-time-b-sunday-connection.htm)
Image Credit- https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/pIw0HUJrFwQg8DSbMHB2?ru=Paul-Evangelion
Thirty-Second Sunday Ordinary Time. Year B
(EPISODE: )
The Lord be with you.
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{{Peace and Patience to you all}} welcome everyone, we gather - Reflect upon the Holy Scriptures and the values of the Lord.
Brothers and sisters, as we prepare ourselves to celebrate the Lord's supper, let us recall our sins and acknowledge them in silence.
sung (or Lord Jesus, you have revealed yourself as the way to the Father: Lord, have mercy//You have poured out on your people the Spirit of truth: Christ, have mercy//You are the Good Shepherd, leading us to eternal life: Lord have mercy)
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
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Memorial Acclamation
2. When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.
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Ps 146: 6c-7, 8-9a, 9b-10. "Praise the Lord, my soul! "
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Matt 5: 3). Alleluia, alleluia! Happy the poor in Spirit; The Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
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PREFACE: Sundays I
EP II
(theme variation: 2 )
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{I pray this week brings you an ever deeper experience of Our Lord's compassion and love}
Go in peace.(glorifying the Lord by your life)
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Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com
To listen to our weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly
Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)
Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)
"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins publishers.
Prayers of the Faithful - " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993) . (Sydney Australia).
Sung "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" - By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The Gloria, Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org.
- "Faith, Hope and Love" theme hymn - in memory of William John (Bill) Kelly (1942-2017) - Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.
"Quiet Time." Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020.
- "Today I Arise" - For Trisha J Kelly. Original words and music by Paul W. Kelly. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.
Sound Engineering and editing - P.W. Kelly.
Microphones: -
Sennheiser MK4 Cardioid Condenser;
and Shure Motiv MV5 Digital Condenser.
Editing equipment: NCH software - MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software
NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 12.44
Sound Processing: iZotope RX 6 Audio Editor
[ Production - KER - 2024]
May God bless and keep you.
