Saturday – 9^th Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel – Mark 12:38-44

A Helping Hand

Streets of Old Jaffa (Tel Aviv)

 

Back when Ginger worked downtown and had to brave the Kennedy during rush hour (which usually lasts all day, so a rush-day), she would always encounter a number of homeless and destitute looking for a handout.  She found it difficult to try and fumble around looking for loose change at the last minute.  So she came up with a simple solution, one that required a bit of planning ahead.  She created little Ziplock bags of goodies – granola bars, chocolate, maybe some fresh fruit – and kept a supply at the ready in the car.  It might not seem like much to us but, for those in need, it was kind and thoughtful.

Which brings us to today’s Gospel where we see once again the hypocrisy of the Scribes who always seem to be ‘on parade’ in their fancy and colorful clothes.  They take the best seats in the synagogue and at wedding feasts and banquets.  And they insist on making a show of praying in public.  And even when they ‘donate’ money to the Temple, it’s all a matter of show!  Fun fact here!  Most scholars suggest that the collection chests in the Temple were trumpet-shaped and made of metal, kind of like our Thanksgiving ‘horn of plenty.’  The result is that the more coins you put in the chest, the more noise (the more attention) you make!  Look at me; I’m giving a lot!!  But it’s all show, no real substance!

And the poor widow praying in the Temple who gives just a few coins?  Too few to barely make a sound!  Who would notice?  She gives what she has back to God.  What’s important to her is not what she doesn’t have but what she does!  Despite all her hardships, despite the difficult life she has as a widow, alone, basically abandoned and ignored, she still prays; she still offers what little she has.  What matters to her is giving back to God in thanks for the simple gift of life.  She sees that her real wealth lies in her capacity to love, to express her gratitude to God through generosity to others.

What matters here is not so much WHAT you have or HOW MUCH you have.  What really matters is what you do with it!  It’s not about quantity of the gift; it’s about the quality of the intention!  It’s about what you do with the gifts God has granted you!  As wonderful and fun and uplifting as they are, parades are transitory; they last but a moment.  True faith, true charity are eternal!

God, in His infinite love, gave each of us the gift of life!  Every day we have the chance to express our thanks, our love.  How do you plan to thank God today?  How do you plan to use this gift of life?