Welcoming the Holy
Here we invite you to take time for yourself in personal prayer. The following spiritual reflection offers words and images which we hope will evoke for you an experience of God.
By: Sister Joan Cawley
Opening Prayer
Let my prayer come into Your presence. Incline Your ear to my cry for help, O Lord. Entrance Antiphon
Scripture
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. …Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid. Go and do as you propose. …for the Lord, the God of Israel, says, ‘The jar of flour shall not grow empty, nor the jug of oil run dray …’”
Mark 12:41-44
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 who also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said, “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.”
Reflection
These readings focus on two widows and their great faith and how that faith sustained them when life was difficult. We know very little about their backgrounds, only that they have lost their husbands which caused them great emotional and physical pain. One had no food, only a little flour and some oil to prepare a final meal for her and her son; the other had only two coins and she gave that money to the treasury. Each sacrificed what she had for God’s work. The first received assurance that she could continue her life while there was no such assurance for the second widow.
We are all called to sacrifice in different ways: financially, use of time and talents, unexpected claims on our resources. How willingly, generously do we respond?
Reflect
What am I willing to sacrifice for others? Is it a real sacrifice or just something I do without any real thought?
Closing Prayer
Lord, teach me to be generous and not to count the cost.
