by Fr. Jose “Joesum” Sumampong, Jr.
November 11, 2021
Thirty Second Sunday in OT (B)
1 Kings 17:10-16 / Psalm 146: 7, 8-9, 9-10
Hebrews 9:24-28 / Mark 12:38-44 (or Mark 12:41-44)
On Humility and Generosity
Word: This Sunday’s gospel selection provides us with two challenges: humility and generosity.
But first, a little backgrounder. The scribes were the specialists and official interpreters of the Scriptures. Their long studies were over when they were about 40 years old. They were consecrated in their role and became official advisers in all decisions regarding the Law. Neither Jesus nor the Apostles had received this type of learned formation. From the very beginning, the scribes never ceased opposing Jesus. Even the gospel of St. Mark relates many examples of such conflicts (see Mark 2:6, 3:22, 7:1, 11:18).
In the first section, Jesus criticizes the religious leaders for their pride and ostentation. 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” (Mark 12: 38-39). How natural it is to seek recognition for one’s accomplishments and honors! But such pride is to be condemned, insists Jesus.
The scribes’ high opinion of themselves may have been a contributing factor in their abuse of power and their willingness to take advantage of the widows — women without family members to provide for them and who were therefore dependent on public charity. “They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation” (Mark 12:40). The scribes’ injustice is not only reprehensible behavior but is also a violation of the spirit of Mosaic Law.
It is not entirely clear how closely related the second account is to the first. “He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents” (Mark 12:41-42). It is possible that the widow’s offering of two small coins to the Temple treasury illustrates precisely the point Jesus was trying to make in his criticism of the scribes. But Jesus does not actually praise the woman’s action and might have considered encouragement of such an action one of the ways by which widows were robbed by the Temple establishment.
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” (Mark 12:43-44).
What a queer way of counting! Jesus upsets completely the hierarchy of our society. He has no regard or respect for our classifications, our social classes with their carefully established degrees — the necessary stages of one’s “promotion”. To be “on the top rung of the ladder”, to be rich, to have great fame, to wear solemn robes, to be greeted on the public squares, to have the places of honor at banquets, — all this is of no interest to Jesus!
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Order: Our task today is to challenge all the members of our community to recognize our gifts and yet accept them with humility. Let us be inspired to be willing to give even when it hurts and, even more importantly, to strive to change unjust systems that allow the destitute to be further mistreated. Finally, let us also be aware that we ourselves may be challenged as being like one of the “scribes”.
On the other hand, it is our tragedy that there is so often some part of our lives, some part of our activities, some part of ourselves which we do not give to Christ. Somehow there is nearly always something we hold back. We are asked, therefore, to make the final sacrifice and the final surrender.
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Realities: 1. In the Maulbronn monastery in the Alps in Austria there is a typical mountain spring. It flows out of the side of the hill, through a hollowed out tree stem as a pipe, and spills noisily into a large trough also hollowed out of a large tree trunk. Nearby in German is this inscription: “When someone comes here and drinks of my water, do you think he thanks me? But no matter – I just keep flowing on and gurgling on and singing as I go. How beautiful and simple is my life: I give, and keep on giving.” (Michaels Kalendor, WATER FLOWING AND GIVING)
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2. When you are tempted to wish you were in more favorable circumstances so that you might better glorify God, think of Charles Spurgeon’s philosophy. He used to tell this story …
“A fish of the sea might say, ‘How I would display the wisdom of God if I could sing or mount a tree like a bird.’ But a dolphin in a tree would be a very grotesque affair, and there would be no wisdom of God to admire a trout singing in the grove. But when the fish cuts the wave with agile fins, it is adapting wonderfully to its habitat. Its every bone is fitted for the circumstances in which it finds itself.”
So God has matched our souls to our circumstances. We are not here by accident. Let us glorify God where we are. (William Barclay, GLORIFYING GOD BY PRESENT LIFE)
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3. Years ago a young man knelt with his pastor and prayed as he committed himself to God to tithe. His first week’s pay was $10 and the tithe was $1. As he grew older, he became more prosperous and his tithe was $7 a week, then $10. He moved to another city and soon his tithe was $100 a week, then $200. He sent his old friend a wire, “Come to see me.”
The pastor arrived at the man’s house. They had a good talk about old times. Finally the man came to his point. “You remember that promise I made years ago to tithe. How can I get released?”
“Why do you want to get released?”
“It is like this,” replied the man; “when I made the promise, I only had to give $1, but now it’s $200. I can’t afford to give away money like that.”
The old pastor looked at his friend. “I’m afraid you cannot get released from the promise, but there is something we can do. We can kneel here and ask God to shrink up your income so you could afford to give a dollar… ls that okay with you?” (Sword of the Lord, COLLECTION, TITHING)
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4. There is a story of a monk in the old days, a very holy man, who was sent to take up office as abbot in the monastery. He looked so humble a person that, when he arrived, he was sent to work in the kitchen as a scullion, because no one recognized him. Without a word of protest and with no attempt to take his position, he went and washed the dishes and did the most menial tasks. It was only when the bishop arrived a considerable time later that the mistake was discovered and the humble monk took up his true position. (Unknown Author)
o0oDirection : Lord Jesus, you came to tell us that the meaning of life consists in giving. You told us that those who cling too tightly to what they have—without thought for others—end up by losing everything. You gave us new values by which to measure the worth of a person’s life. Help me to realize it is not temporal success or riches or fame that necessarily gives life meaning. Rather it is the service rendered to others in your Name that brings fulfillment and makes my life worthwhile. May all my activity help build God’s kingdom: my suffering bear genuine fruit, my obedience bring true freedom, and my death lead to eternal life. (Prayer to Be Generous in Giving, People’s Prayer Book)