A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday Liturgy
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (Series 4, n. 51)
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – November 12, 2006
“Total Giving”
BIBLE READINGS
I Kgs 17:10-16 // Heb 9:24-28 // Mk 12:38-44
N.B. This new series of BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD: A LECTIO DIVINA APPROACH TO THE SUNDAY LITURGY presents a biblico-liturgical study of the First Reading of each Sunday Mass to serve as background for a better understanding of the Gospel proclaimed in the liturgy. For a biblico-liturgical study of the Gospel for each Sunday, please go to the PDDM Web Archives: WWW.PDDM.US.
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS
One grace I have experienced as a missionary and consecrated person is the opportunity to see inspiring acts of self-giving everywhere in the world. When I was enrolled at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute in Rome, I used to volunteer to help our Sisters working in the souvenir shops at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. Pilgrims from all parts of Italy and from all over the world would come to our place for religious objects and souvenirs to bring back home to their loved ones. In carrying out this service to the pilgrims, I had a chance to witness memorable acts of goodness, generosity and self-giving. During a Jubilee year celebration when I was assisting a group of pilgrims from Bergamo, I met a pleasant looking, elderly peasant from the hometown of Pope John XXIII. His resources were very limited, so he bought only two small holy cards worth 500 liras. I wrapped his purchase in a nice little paper bag and gave it to him with a warm smile. After receiving it with gratitude, he fell into deep thought. Then he dipped into his pocket and handed me 10,000 liras as a donation for candles. What an act of kindness and generous giving!
Our bible readings for this Sunday give us a lesson on total and wholehearted giving. The Old Testament reading (I Kgs 17:10-16)) is about the pagan woman who gave all - the little she had. The authors of the Days of the Lord, vol. 5, remark: “The story read at the beginning of the Liturgy of the Word on this Sunday is one of the best-known passages of the Cycle of Elijah, which tells us of the prophet’s adventures and miracles. He vigorously condemned the impiety of King Ahab and his wife, Jezebel, who favored the worship of local gods, called baals, and who sought to destroy all of Yahweh’s prophets. Elijah has announced to the king that there will be a drought of several years, a punishment decreed by God for Ahab’s evil conduct. At the Lord’s command, he immediately flees and takes refuge near a stream where God-sent ravens bring him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening. But owing to the drought, the streams run dry. Then God tells Elijah to go to Zarephath, a Phoenician port some ten miles from Sidon; there he will find a widow who will see to his survival.”
The story of the poor widow of Zarephath delineates the depth and power of faith that is the font of total giving. The poor widow - a pagan - did not hesitate to part with her remaining meager provisions for the benefit of a needy stranger - Yahweh’s prophet. The authors of the Days of the Lord, vol. 5, comment: “What a marvelous story! The most admirable part is not the miracle itself, but the faith of the protagonists, especially the poor widow’s. Elijah, of course, believed in the Lord; but the Lord had spoken to him and, by the bank of a stream, had just given him a signal proof of his power and solicitude. But this woman was a pagan. She believed God’s word – an unlikely promise – transmitted by an unknown person, a stranger who spoke to her in the name of a God locked in combat with the baal she served. On this word, she risked her life and her son’s life. This is an admirable faith on the part of a simple and poor woman, and it reminds us of all those who, forgetting themselves, accomplish the acts of mercy that God expects.”
The Old Testament backdrop of the impoverished, but faith-filled and generous widow of Zarephath reinforces and vivifies the fascinating figure of the destitute, but extremely generous widow of this Sunday’s Gospel reading (Mk 12:38-44). Observing the devout act of the poor widow who put two small coins into the temple’s treasury, Jesus called the disciples to himself in order to let them see the profound contrast between complete and incomplete giving. The authors of the Days of the Lord, vol. 5, explain: “The contrast is drawn between the surplus the rich contribute from and the very livelihood that the widow gives, between parting with only a portion of one’s abundance and the total giving of one’s very life, so to speak. The rich honor God; but the poor woman consecrates herself entirely to God. The rich, while dedicating only a part of their possessions to God, nonetheless rely on their money for their living; the widow wholly entrusts herself to God. In the last analysis, what is discussed here is not big money and small coins. In the widow’s offering, Jesus sees the evocation of the total gift of himself he is about to make.”
Indeed, Jesus Christ surpasses the generous gift-giving of the widow of Zarephath and the widow at the treasury of Jerusalem temple. The Servant-Son of God is the ultimate self-giving Lord – the only true Poor One who gave everything back to God, including his very own life upon the cross. Christ offered his life “once and for all” in order to redeem us. In union with him, our lives become capable of total self-giving. Following the footsteps of the Divine Master, the true Anawim of Yahweh, our lives are transformed into a totus tuus – a wholehearted gift to God.
The early Church Father Paulinus of Nola (353-431) exhorts us: “Let us then invest with the Lord what he has given us, for we have nothing that does not come from him: we are dependent upon him for our very existence. And we ourselves particularly, who have a special and a greater debt, since God not only created us but purchased us as well – what can we regard as our own when we do not even possess ourselves? But let us rejoice that we have been bought at a great price, the price of the Lord’s blood … So let us give back to the Lord the gifts he has given us.”
PERSONAL REFLECTION
By Belen Papina Villaluz
Dunellen, New Jersey
A few years ago, our parish church in Guinobatan, Albay in the Philippines was down for a major renovation. The condition of the church was so bad that, except for the walls and the belfry, everything had to be torn down. This big undertaking was in anticipation of the centennial foundation of our parish. Solicitation letters were sent out to parishioners who were deemed able to contribute to make the project successful. Donations poured in from within the parish and beyond, that is, from town mates living abroad. Some gave a good portion of their salaries or bonuses. Others willingly shared their retirement benefits, while some found ways and means to convince other people to contribute. Those who could not give in kind or cash, rendered their services.
In a matter of two or three years, the church renovation project was accomplished and it was a complete success. During the feast day in honor of our patroness, Our Lady of the Assumption, a grand celebration was held to thank everybody and most especially those who have supported in making the endeavor a success. People from everywhere came to celebrate with us on that most special day. A bountiful feast and a sumptuous meal were prepared for everyone to enjoy. Certificates of recognition and plaques of appreciation were given to all those who have given much of their time, talent and treasure. And their names were posted on the bulletin board for everyone to see.
However, during that time when the church was being renovated and even until I left for the States, I always see this man who, during the offertory, goes up to the altar to offer what I found out later was handful of coins wrapped in newspaper. He heard Mass almost every day and without fail continued his practice come offertory time. I came to know that this man is a baggage boy who works in the public market. He makes a living by carrying anything and everything anybody could not carry. For his service he is given whatever amount his clients find appropriate … which most of the time is a few coins. He could not afford to buy anything for himself for he went to Mass in a very old t-shirt, short pants and a pair of worn-out rubber slippers. Every time I see him, I could not help but admire and envy him for his selfless giving.
I was one of the recipients of a plaque of appreciation but seeing this man, I realized that he gave more than I did.
When judgment day comes, who will be the first to enter the Kingdom of God? Will it be the person who gave a big amount with his name announced to everyone or the man who gave everything he had without even first thinking of his needs?
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART
A. How do we react to situations of extreme vulnerability, insecurity and poverty? Do we take the generous stance of the faith-filled widows of Zarephath and of the Gospel?
B. Do we allow ourselves to be configured into the self-giving Lord Jesus, the true Anawim – the ultimate Poor One of Yahweh? Do we trust that in the act of total self- giving and surrender to the divine will we shall experience the true beatitude and the fullness of life?
C. Do we look to Jesus, the Divine Master, in order to learn from him the ability to give even when it hurts? Do we allow him to guide us so that we may humbly recognize our gifts and donate them generously at the service of the community and thus give glory to God? Do we trust that when Jesus looks at us, he sees the heart that gives everything?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD
(Adapted from Commission Francophone Cistercienne, Tropaires des dimanches, 137 // Days of the Lord, vol. 5, p. 297)
Leader: The poor woman approached unknown, without renown, a humble face among other faces; in her hand two little coins. The Son of Man looked, he saw the heart that gave everything.
Assembly: The eyes of the Lord on the poor.
Leader: Blessed are you, God our Father! You reveal to the humble the mysteries of the kingdom.
Assembly: The eyes of the Lord on the poor.
Leader: Blessed are you, God our Father! You choose those who have nothing, here they are, rich in faith.
Assembly: The eyes of the Lord on the poor.
Leader: Blessed are you, God our Father! You lower proud looks, you save the lowly.
Assembly: The eyes of the Lord on the poor.
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it.
“This poor widow put in more than all the others … She, from her poverty, has contributed all she had.” (Mk 12:43-44)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION
A. ACTION PLAN: Pray that the spirit of totus tuus or total giving may animate our life of Christian discipleship and service. Pray also that the unjust structures that lead to destitution and greater abuse of the poor and needy in today’s society may be rectified. Strive to offer the gifts you have received from the Lord for the good and at the service of the community.
B. ACTION PLAN: To help us contemplate more deeply the person of our self-giving Lord Jesus Christ, the Poor One of Yahweh, make an effort to spend an hour in Eucharistic Adoration. Visit the PDDM WEB site (www.pddm.us) for the EUCHARISTIC ADORATION THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (Vol. 2, n. 51): A Weekly Pastoral Tool.
Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang PDDM
PIAE DISCIPULAE DIVINI MAGISTRI
SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER
60 Sunset Ave., Staten Island, NY 10314
Tel. (718) 494-8597 // (718) 761-2323
Website: WWW.PDDM.US