32nd Sunday: Generosity and Freedom of Spirit

November 10, 2018

You could not find two more extreme examples of generosity than the widows in the readings today. Elijah asks the widow of Zarephath to give him the little bit of food that she had saved for her and her son, before they both would die. Amazingly, she feeds Elijah. God did not abandon her. A recognition of abundance can only come through generosity. In the gospel, the widow in the temple gave her last few coins in contrast to the religious leaders who seek places of honor and devour the savings of widows. Why is generosity so important a virtue in life? Without generosity, freedom is not possible.

Elijah and the widow
Elijah was a great prophet who lived at the time of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. King Ahab used Baal worship for his own purposes. For the most part, people just went along with whatever King Ahab and Queen Jezebel wanted because it was easier. Elijah, God’s prophet, contested the cult of Baal by proclaiming a drought in Israel. The widow was caught in the drought, an innocent victim.

As he arrived at the entrance of the city,  a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her, "Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink."  She left to get it, and he called out after her,  "Please bring along a bit of bread."  She answered, "As the LORD, your God, lives,  I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar and a little oil in my jug.  Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks,  to go in and prepare something for myself and my son;  when we have eaten it, we shall die."  Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid.  Go and do as you propose. But first make me a little cake and bring it to me.  Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son. For the LORD, the God of Israel, says,  'The jar of flour shall not go empty,  nor the jug of oil run dry,  until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'" 1 Kgs. 17:10-16.

Jesus and the widow
Jesus criticized religious leaders who seek places of honor and used religion to feed themselves. Today we would call this the sin of clericalism. Scripture says condemning clericalism:

In the course of his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation."

And then he observed the widow

A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood." Mk. 12:38-44

Widows, especially those without children, are unseen. The widows were a major concern in the early Church. [1] Widows were not included in Israel’s inheritance law and, without family, their constant concern was living day-to-day. In the Gospel, this widow’s resources were meager at best. Perhaps she was imprudent, but she was most certainly generous.

Why is generosity a fundamental virtue in life
Generosity is a sign of gratitude to God and is the recognition that other people have a claim on us. Community cannot exist without generosity. Last week, Jesus taught that the two most important commandments were, first, loving God with our whole, heart, soul and strength and the second, which is like the first, to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Generosity is an expression of inner freedom that is rooted in these two commandments. To give of our time, talent and treasure is an act of gratitude before God. It is a recognition that we belong in a world that is bigger than our own self-interest. Without generosity, freedom as a virtue does not exist because we are always trapped in narrow self-interest.

Opportunities:

There are a couple of opportunities to give back to our community:

First, we are preparing for our Advent Small Group series. Small groups are intended to build our parish community. Here is more information on “The Prodigal That You Love.” Here is an excerpt:

“Quickly, bring out a robe — the best one — and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.” — Luke 15:22 Why aren’t more of us saints? It’s not because God does not want to give graces to the brave people who ask for them, but because so few ask. It is so hard for us to believe in God’s generosity. Even when, like the father of the prodigal son, God embraces us in our imperfection and sin and calls for the best robe and puts a ring on our finger, we still draw back. FSP, Theresa Aletheia Noble. The Prodigal You Love: Inviting Loved Ones Back to the Church (Kindle Locations 2096-2100). Pauline Books and Media. Kindle Edition.

Second, I am leading a service day once a month to help down at Casa Maria Soup Kitchen. If you are interested in assisting, check out the details on our parish home page.

[1] This is from St. Paul's First Letter to Timothy and concerns the care of widows in the Early Christian community:

³Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. ⁴But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. ⁵The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. ⁶But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. ^G)">7Give the people these instructions, so that no one may be open to blame. ⁸Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

⁹No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, ¹⁰and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.

¹¹As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. ¹²Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. ¹³Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to. ¹⁴So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander. ¹⁵Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.

¹⁶If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.