32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

            A couple of weeks ago I visited North Dakota.  I was actually about an hour south of the heart of the oil boom.  It was interesting talking to some of the locals about how this massive increase in wealth will impact the economy, housing, public services and even crime in this prairie state. 

            One of the gentlemen I spoke with said something very insightful.  After noting that many lower class, middle class, or upper class farmers suddenly got into unimaginable wealth.  He said, “The farmers that lived simply and generously before they got rich still drive around in their old Ford pickup trucks and wear blue jeans and a t-shirt.  The farmers that were greedy and lived for themselves before the wealth are just as greedy and selfish now.”

            We Catholics have preached about the dangers of wealth and riches for centuries.  Yet as these farmers show, money and possessions are not in themselves good or bad. You could have all the wealth in the world and be detached from possessions.  You could be the poorest person ever and cling greedily to what little you have.  It is our ability to be detached or attached to possessions that good or evil can result.

            We have two excellent examples of detachment from possessions in our readings today from the two widows.  First we must remember that widows during the time of the Israelites and Jesus had a difficult life.  In both societies the women didn’t work and if anything happened to their husbands they lost their breadwinners.  Thus they were left at the mercy of their children—if they had any—family, friends and the religious communities for support.  In short, widows were very poor.

            The widow from Zarephath in our first reading had nothing more than a handful of flower and a cup of oil.  She was about to make a last meal for her and her son before they would perish when Elijah asked for this food.  The widow handed it over.  She gave everything she had and received infinitely more in return.  Indeed, God used this same jar of flour and jug of oil to feed this woman and her son for a year.

            The widow in the Gospel also gave everything—two small coins.  Yet Jesus affirmed that she gave more than all the rest.  While we don’t know the rest of the story with this widow we can safely assume that she was rewarded abundantly, if not in this life, then in heaven.

            Yet these widows’ generosity is only a hint or sign of the generosity of Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ, as the infinite, uncontainable God chose to become a man.  He emptied Himself to become a slave—like if the richest man in the world traded everything in the world for a couple of pennies.  Even as a mere mortal, Jesus once again gave everything.  He shed His blood and died on a cross—giving everything to God.

            May we have the courage to give everything—both our possessions and our very selves—to God.  May we follow the example of the widow of Zarephath, the widow in the temple, and Jesus Himself in handing all we have and are to God.