Saint Clement I, Pope and Martyr (Optional Memorial)
(34th or Last Week in Ordinary Time)
This poor widow put in more than all the rest. (Luke 21:3)
At first glance, Jesus’ evaluation is ludicrous. Surely the rich donors have deposited far more than this widow’s two small coins!
But with a smile, Jesus points out that generosity is measured, not by what is given, but by what is left. Others have contributed their extra, leaving themselves a comfortable cushion to live on. This widow has given everything. All she has left is trust in God’s provision—and she knows that is enough. God loves her, and he will provide for her out of his glorious riches.
The key to this woman’s generosity is her attitude. Whether the other people give a little or a lot, they are clearly donating what they regard as theirs. The widow, on the other hand, knows that everything she possesses belongs to God—including her own life. Secure in this relationship, she has asked the Lord, “What should you and I do with these resources that belong to you?” When she decided to place it all in the collection, surely she had no idea that her generosity would provide an object lesson for Jesus’ closest friends, let alone for every generation since then.
What this woman did for the apostles the Holy Spirit wants to do for us. Every day, the Spirit gives us “object lessons”—often through the people around us. Whether it be lessons on generosity, prayer, loving people, or serving the poor, the Spirit wants to help us take on the mind of Christ. He knows that being “renewed” in our thoughts and attitudes is essential to our growth in holiness (Ephesians 4:23).
So be on the lookout for these object lessons. One man using an ATM to withdraw some cash was approached by a beggar asking for help. Over the next two weeks, he was asked for money three more times—each from a different person. At first, the man became annoyed. “Why can’t they get a job?” he asked. But then, the next Sunday at Mass, he finally saw that God had been urging him to be more generous.
God gives all of us these kinds of object lessons. We just have to learn how to be more alert and listen to his voice.
“Generous and loving God, widen my heart so that I can give everything to you, holding nothing back.” Amen!
Daniel 1:1 In the third year of the reign of Y’hoyakim king of Y’hudah, N’vukhadnetzar king of Bavel came to Yerushalayim and laid siege to it; 2 and Adonai handed Y’hoyakim king of Y’hudah over to him, along with some of the articles from the house of God. He took them to the land of Shin‘ar, to the house of his god and placed the articles in the storehouse of his god.
3 The king ordered Ashp’naz, the eunuch serving as his chief officer, to bring into the palace from the people of Isra’el some of royal or noble descent. 4 They were to be boys without physical defect, handsome in appearance, versed in all kinds of wisdom, quick to learn, discerning, and having the capacity to serve in the king’s palace; and he was to teach them the language and literature of the Kasdim. 5 The king assigned them a daily portion of his own food and the wine he drank, and they were to be cared for in this way for three years. At the end of this time they were to become the king’s attendants.
6 Among these, from the people of Y’hudah, were Dani’el, Hananyah, Misha’el and ‘Azaryah.
8 But Dani’el resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or the wine he drank, so he asked the chief officer to be excused from defiling himself. 9 God caused the chief officer to be kind and sympathetic toward Dani’el; 10 however, the chief officer said to Dani’el, “I’m afraid of my lord the king. After all, he has given you an allowance of food and drink; so if he were to see you boys looking worse than the others your age, you would be putting my own head in danger from the king.”
11 Then Dani’el said to the guard whom the chief officer had put in charge of Dani’el, Hananyah, Misha’el and ‘Azaryah, 12 “Please! Try an experiment on your servants — for ten days have them give us only vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then see how we look, and compare us with how the boys who eat the king’s food look; and deal with your servants according to what you see.” 14 He agreed to do what they had asked and gave them a ten-day test. 15 At the end of ten days they looked better and more robust than all the boys who were eating the king’s food. 16 So the guard took away their food and the wine they were supposed to drink, and gave them vegetables.
17 To these four boys God had given knowledge and skill in every aspect of learning and wisdom; moreover, Dani’el could understand all kinds of visions and dreams.
18 When the time the king had set for them to be presented came, the chief officer presented them to N’vukhadnetzar; 19 and when the king spoke with them, none was found among all of them to compare with Dani’el, Hananyah, Misha’el and ‘Azaryah. So they entered the king’s service; 20 and in all matters requiring wisdom and understanding, whenever the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and exorcists in his entire kingdom.
(Psalm) Daniel 3:52 “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our ancestors,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;
And blessed is your holy and glorious name,
praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.
53 Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,
praiseworthy and glorious above all forever.
54 Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
55 Blessed are you who look into the depths
from your throne upon the cherubim,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
56 Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven,
praiseworthy and glorious forever.
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