Roman Catholic The Word Among Us Daily Mass Reading & Daily Meditation for Monday, 24 November 2014

Roman Catholic The Word Among Us Daily Mass Reading & Daily Meditation for Monday, 24 November 2014
Meditation - Luke 21:1-4 Just then he looked up and saw the rich people dropping offerings in the collection plate. Then he saw a poor widow put in two pennies. He said, “The plain truth is that this widow has given by far the largest offering today. All these others made offerings that they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all!”
Saint Andrew Dung-Lac, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs
This poor widow put in more than all the rest. (Luke 21:3)
Think about the money you put into the collection basket at Mass on Sundays. What does it amount to? A few cups of coffee? Maybe a meal at a nice restaurant or some other more expensive luxury? Now think about a contribution to the temple treasury in Jesus’ time. Was it worth the price of a cow? A new cloak? Maybe a jug of wine? Everyone’s gift means something different—as different as each giver.
The two coins that the widow in today’s Gospel gave were insignificantly small compared to the larger gifts given by the successful merchants and wealthy farmers jostling past her. But Jesus could see how much the coins were worth to this woman, and her gift touched his heart.
What was so special about her offering? The answer gets at the very root of the reason why we are called to give to the Lord. Of course, the money that we give to the Church and to worthy charities is well used, and this is important. Many people are helped by the contributions we make. But God doesn’t delight in an offering just because of what can be done with it. His concerns go far beyond a mere pragmatic accounting of dollars and cents. God is overjoyed when we give like this poor widow, because in doing so, we are giving our very lives to him.
This woman, donating more than she could afford, glorified God. Her sacrificial gift was an offering of worship. It’s as if she said, I know it’s not much, but it’s all I have. Take it, Lord, because you are worth every penny.
God wants more than our money. He wants our hearts. Everything for him! When we surrender ourselves to God by giving out of our substance, he rejoices in it, no matter how small we may think our contribution. Ask God today for the desire and the courage to surrender to him with the same selfless spirit as the widow who touched his heart.
“Lord, help me give my whole life to you today. I offer you my heart, and I trust that you will accept it and make use of it.” Amen!
Revelation 14: A Perfect Offering
1-2 I saw—it took my breath away!—the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, 144,000 standing there with him, his Name and the Name of his Father inscribed on their foreheads. And I heard a voice out of Heaven, the sound like a cataract, like the crash of thunder.
2-5 And then I heard music, harp music and the harpists singing a new song before the Throne and the Four Animals and the Elders. Only the 144,000 could learn to sing the song. They were bought from earth, lived without compromise, virgin-fresh before God. Wherever the Lamb went, they followed. They were bought from humankind, firstfruits of the harvest for God and the Lamb. Not a false word in their mouths. A perfect offering.
Psalm 24: A David Psalm
1-2 God claims Earth and everything in it,
    God claims World and all who live on it.
He built it on Ocean foundations,
    laid it out on River girders.
3-4 Who can climb Mount God?
    Who can scale the holy north-face?
Only the clean-handed,
    only the pure-hearted;
Men who won’t cheat,
    women who won’t seduce.
5-6 God is at their side;
    with God’s help they make it.
This, Jacob, is what happens
    to God-seekers, God-questers.
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