Jar of meal shall not be spent, jug of oil shall not be emptied

1 Kgs 17:10-16, Heb. 9:24-28, Mk 12:38-44. On this Thirty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, the Church invites us to a life of generosity with a pure heart. The first reading and the Gospel sing the praises of two generous women. In the first reading, the Lord sends Elijah to Zarephath to be cared for by a widow. Even though the region was suffering from a great famine, the widow trusted in the promise of God and gave food to the Prophet. In today's Gospel, we find Jesus seated in the Temple watching the people put money into the treasury. Even though she gave hardly anything compared to the rich, Jesus points out a poor widow who gave a whole lot more, because it was all the money that she had.

The poor widow gave her whole life, not just all her money or livelihood. To give from our livelihood is not only an act of generosity, it is also an act of trust in God. Jesus demonstrates the ultimate act of generosity and trust in God in His 'Self-Gift' on the cross. In a fallen society - back then as today - widows were often subjected to neglect and abuse. So, she may have no one but God to lean on for support and justice. In the reciprocal gift of ourselves to God, we see a mutual, total, spontaneous giving and receiving, no longer between a man and a woman in marriage, but between each human person and the Trinity.

May the Lord grant us generous heart so that we may be gift to our generation! Amen!! Good morning and Happy Sunday!!!