Called To Give All
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November 9, 2024“If you feel forgotten by God because you question why He would love you, remember that you are His precious child because you fear the Lord.” (Psalm 103:13)
In the Scriptures, one of the so called “forgotten, less privilege groups” are the widows. Widows appear throughout the Bible and were present at some of the most significant moments. Our Scriptural readings this 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time presents two widows, the widow at Zarephath in the First Reading (1 Kings 17:10-16) and the widow at the temple area in our Gospel (Mark 2:38-44). Both widows have been portrayed in numerous reflections and commentaries as perfect example for their generosity, for being selfless in giving what they have.
I want to explore another angle not so much on their selfless giving but on the way they were being given attention.Prophet Elijah sees the widow at Zarephath and gives her instructions on what to do and God blessed her. Jesus sees the widow putting her two coins in the Temple treasury and was commended that her offering was greater than any other else. Among all the peoples, Elijah and Jesus took notice on the widows who do not hold any important place nor position in the society. They were acknowledged as persons not an object of lessons, their predicament, and what they have to offer. They are persons after all but at times, being labeled as part of the “less fortunate” members of the society, they can be easily ignored, unseen or even invisible to the eyes of many.
When we label someone as “less fortunate”, we are as if saying that person is as less valuable than we are and so we are “more fortunate”. But those we consider less valuable under our own level of perception are the ones being acknowledge by God and given much importance. Our Liturgical readings want us to realize that whether we are poor or rich, we can’t label the widows as “less fortunate”and that we need to take notice of them and all the people like them being considered as outcasts, ignored, and forgotten. When we don’t see others as human just because of their social status, then we are slowly falling into the pit where we “receive a severe condemnation.” (Mark 12:40).
Jesus calls us to see the widow, to recognize her deepest need for we have the same need. We are people in need of care in way that only God can care for us, we are in need of love that only God can give unto the cross. We are people in need to be noticed as only Christ can see us.
Tomorrow, November 11, we honor and appreciate our veterans who have served our country and we also remember how many of them gave their lives in the service of our land. Sadly, too often, these men and women are like the widows, forgotten, ignored, unnoticed and forsaken.
We can’t see Jesus until we see the widow, and recognize her as one of us instead of as someone or something that is different from us, incomparable from us.
As one preacher puts it this way, “If we want to be like Jesus, we must see like Jesus.”
