Homily for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B
Theme: NO MATTER HOW POOR WE MAYBE, OUR CALL AS CHRISTIANS, IS TO BE HIGHEST DONORS.
By: Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA
Homily for Sunday November 7 2021
*READINGS OF THE DAY*
1 Kings 17:10-16
Hebrews 9:24-28
Mark 12:38-44
*INTRODUCTION*
Dear Brethrens, two poor widows made name and history according to today’s liturgy of our thirty- second sunday in ordinary time of year B.
One of the greatest tragedy to our social relationship is the thinking that the act of giving or helping others is an exclusive reserve of a particular class – the rich and the wealthy class; the thinking that, it is only for them, I am not involved because I am poor. Anyway, the liturgical readings of today present us with a different opinion, as i base my homily on the two widows presented, let us always know that, even the poor can also give.
*THE FIRST WIDOW OF THE FIRST READING*
The first widow in our first reading, hosted the exhausted and depressed prophet Elijah who has lost all he had and had to flee his country. She believed the words of the prophet and gave him all she had. By agreeing to accommodate Elijah the prophet, the widow was prepared to die together with her son after sharing the last portion of her food. Little did she know that this extraordinary gesture of kindness and generosity would change her life.
*THE SECOND WIDOW OF THE GOSPEL READING*
The gospel reading presents us a poor widow who made the highest donation in the Temple with just two small coins even though there were also the well-offs who doled considerable sums of money. Jesus praised her action in contrast to the rich who gave greater sums because she gave from her heart and with love. “Love is more precious than gold.” The bible emphasized that it was not just that she gave two small coins, but “all she possessed”.
*WHAT IS THE CENTRAL MESSEGE OF OUR LITURGY ON THIS BLESSED SUNDAY?*
There are many lessons for us in today’s readings. First, all the two widows in our readings were generous. Second, they all trusted in the Divine Providence. They teach, or remind us of these simple principles of generosity and prosperity that: Givers, never lack”, and “Blessed is the hand that gives, and the hand that receives.
In life, moments of scarcity, are moments of tests. They are moments to trust in Divine Providence. They are moments of great blessings. So, Tobit advice us that: “It is better to give alms than to treasure up gold…. Those who perform acts of charity and righteousness (generosity) will have fullness of life” (12, 8.
*CONCLUSION*
Dear Friends, the Church wishes to use the praise-worthy actions of the poor widows to stimulate in us faith, confidence and trust in God, and the spirit of love and “sharing” with others what we possess. Faith is trusting too much, believing too much and investing wisely and properly.
God bless you, and have a happy Sunday.
Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA