1 Kings 17:10-16 Hebrews 9:24-28 Mark 12:38-44
How wonderful that both the first reading and the gospel center around the faith, kindness and devotion shown by widows. Not only do the two readings complement one another but, once again, they highlight spiritual principles that challenge us to examine deeply our own spirituality and the way we live.
In the reading from 1 Kings, the renowned prophet, Elijah speaks of his encounter with a compassionate widow. He is thirsty and wants a drink of water. When he asks her for one, she immediately stops what she is doing - preparing for her final meal - and goes to get him some water. And when he tells her that the Lord will provide food for her beyond her imagination, she does not question him, but has faith. Her faith is her salvation.
And it is no accident that Jesus uses another story about a widow to make his point about faith and devotion in Mark’s Gospel passage. As I interpret the various gospels, it seems that Jesus had tremendous respect and admiration for women - certainly more than we see demonstrated by many of the men of that era. Women are often featured as protagonists in his stories. In one of my favorite depictions of the life of Christ, the film series The Chosen, his treatment of women and his appreciation for what they contribute to the world, can be found throughout the stories.
And, in the case of today’s readings, those who selected the scripture passages for our lectionary use a specific type of woman to demonstrate another important point. Throughout sacred scripture, and especially in the words of Jesus; widows, orphans, and prisoners are emphasized as groups of people for whom we should have special care and concern. Today, we have two cases of divine irony, as two widows are shown to be caring, without hesitation, for others. Both Elijah and Jesus take note of this, and use it to demonstrate how God can turn our world and our perceptions upside down in order to challenge us regarding how we treat the poor; whether they be widows orphans, prisoners, the homeless, the hungry, the ones suffering from the ravages of war, or the ones who are managing to survive, but just barely.
I conclude this reflection with a quote from Maria Enid Barga, writing a commentary for the book: Workbook for Lectors, Gospel Readers, and Proclaimers of the Word. She writes:
“Today’s readings invite us to examine our lives. Do we give everything over to God, not just financially, but also our time, our worries, our joys, our prayer life? Do we accept Jesus’ all giving sacrifice in our daily lives, sharing his love with others?” (Emphasis is mine.)
Her question, like the themes in today’s scriptures, burrows deep into my soul.
by: Bill Miller
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