32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time
Reflection: Women offer challenges and inspiration
By SISTER MARY McGLONE
In spite of his biblical importance, we know little about Elijah.
He showed up out of nowhere and disappeared mysteriously in a chariot of fire. (1 Kings, 17:12 and 2 Kings 2:1-14) His worst problems began when he spoke out against King Ahab who, swayed by his wife Jezebel, began to worship foreign gods. Elijah was known for causing a drought and remedying it, working miracles and so antagonizing the king that he had to flee for his life. Today’s description of his interaction with the foreign widow who took him in reminds me of some faith-filled women I have had the privilege of knowing.
When I lived in a small, very poor village in rural Peru, I learned things about the Gospel that cannot be communicated in a classroom. When I picture the widow of Zarephath, I think of Consuelo, an aptly named woman.
Consuelo’s family had a small piece of land on which they grew corn for their family of nine. During one harvest season, thieves began to come at night with pickup trucks to steal all the corn they could harvest from her and her neighbors. As Consuelo angrily told the story, she said, “Those pitiless robbers line their pockets, leaving the poor with nothing to eat!” She added, “I don’t mind a hungry mother who picks six or eight ears for her family, we would never deny the poor, but stealing is inexcusable!”
Much like the widow to whom Elijah turned after he started the drought, Consuelo could not deny others in need. God had told Elijah that he would meet a widow in Zarephath who would feed him. Although the woman was obviously poorer than the prophet himself, Elijah asked her for food and water. With stark and humble honesty, she replied that she was about to use her miniscule remnant of flour and oil to prepare a last meal with her son. Elijah replied that, in spite of the obvious, her store would not be emptied until the famine had passed. And so it happened.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus denounced religious leaders who demanded more of the poor than of themselves. Mark set the emotional tone for this scene by placing it just after Jesus caused the demise of a fig tree, threw the temple into disarray and expelled all moneymakers from the sacred space (Mark 11:12-19). Jesus had just described religious leaders saying, “They devour the houses of widows.” For observant Jews, there could hardly be a more severe censure than that. (See Deuteronomy 27:14-26.)
Speaking of the widow, Jesus communicated two distinct messages. One was admiration for an impoverished woman who trusted enough to rely on God alone. Unlike the disciples who nervously ignored Jesus’ talk of his upcoming sacrifice, she fearlessly gave her all. The widow modeled deep and generous faith. At the same time, Jesus was condemning those who paraded around in rich vestments, remaining aloof from and even taking advantage of the destitute. His praise of her reproved them.
Typical of Gospel paradox, Jesus interpreted the scene before him as if it were a play revealing how the last shall be first and the first last. He made it clear that, like the emperor who strutted around in his invisible new clothes, pretentious religious leaders who take advantage of the lowly unintentionally mock their own arrogance while people like the widow express their freedom and dignity by caring for the common good, no matter the cost.
Practical people will say that people like these three women are irresponsible and unrealistic; they should care for themselves and not risk needing others’ help. Cynics, reviling what they see as a reckless management of resources, will blame them for their own poverty. Others believe that they should first take care of their own, and give once they have a surplus.
Both the women and their critics are in the business of creating society. The women might look on their detractors with sadness. They would pity people who are willing to settle for a “me first” society. They would wonder how the selfish do not die of loneliness.
The two widows exemplify what it means to act like Christ. Like Consuelo, their simple example dares others to believe that generosity, like love and the widow’s jar of oil, need never be considered a limited resource. Their example can embolden others to act like they do. This is their free, courageous and faith-filled way of redeeming the world.
As we near the end of the liturgical year, the church calls us to think about the meaning of our lives. The widows offer us a challenge and an inspiration. Can we become free enough to trust that love and generosity are permanently renewable resources with which we can create a different world? Are we willing to take that wild, faith-filled risk?
Reading I
(1 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.
Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks,
to go in and prepare something for myself and my son;
when we have eaten it, we shall die.”
Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid.
Go and do as you propose.
But first make me a little cake and bring it to me.
Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son.
For the LORD, the God of Israel, says,
‘The jar of flour shall not go empty,
nor the jug of oil run dry,
until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'”
She left and did as Elijah had said.
She was able to eat for a year, and he and her son as well;
the jar of flour did not go empty,
nor the jug of oil run dry,
as the LORD had foretold through Elijah.
Responsorial Psalm
(Psalm 146: 7-10)
Praise the Lord, my soul!
The LORD keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
The LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;
the LORD loves the just.
The LORD protects strangers.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
The fatherless and the widow he sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
Reading II
(Hebrews 9: 24-28)
Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands,
a copy of the true one, but heaven itself,
that he might now appear before God on our behalf.
Not that he might offer himself repeatedly,
as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary
with blood that is not his own;
if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly
from the foundation of the world.
But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages
to take away sin by his sacrifice.
Just as it is appointed that human beings die once,
and after this the judgment, so also Christ,
offered once to take away the sins of many,
will appear a second time, not to take away sin
but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.
Gospel
(Mark 12: 38-44 o4 41-44)
In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds,
“Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes
and accept greetings in the marketplaces,
seats of honor in synagogues,
and places of honor at banquets.
They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext
recite lengthy prayers.
They will receive a very severe condemnation.”
He 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 also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.
Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them,
“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.”