32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, B

Gift of self

Mark 12:38-44

The readings today say a lot about total and wholehearted generosity.   The widow in the book of Kings followed Elijah even though she and her child would prepare for their deaths because of the lack of food.  But she trusted and thus, the "jar of meal was not spent nor the jug of oil was emptied."

In the gospel, Jesus condemned the scribes but commended the poor widow who put in two coins in the treasury; why? because "she put in everything she possessed, all she had to live on."

Jesus gave the whole of himself, body, soul, divinity, to be the Father's gift to us and cause our salvation.

We are invited to be God's gift to others.  Salvation of the world cannot be possible unless we become totally available to God.  Let's start even with tithes which represent 10 percent of our time, talents, and treasure and insure that we have enough resources to do what God wants.

On the other hand, it is not only 10 percent that God desires of us, but 100 percent.  When the time comes for us to go to heaven, we shall implore the Lord, "Lord, take my life.  Take the whole of me."  Let's not wait until the last moment of offering ourselves to the Lord.  Let's start now.