Thirty-second Sunday of Ordinary Time 2024 Franciscan Gospel Reflection

Franciscan Friar Fr. Paul Gallagher reflects on the Gospel readings for the Thirty-second Sunday of Ordinary Time. Who are the people without a voice in your community?

The content is edited by Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Anne Marie Lom and Joe Thiel. The excerpts from the Sunday readings are prepared by Joe Thiel. To read or download the complete pdf with excerpts for your prayer, please click here Franciscan Gospel Reflection November 10 2024. Excerpts are from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Photo: David from Colorado Springs, United States, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Mark 12:38-44

In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds, “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.”

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.

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.”

Background:

It will be helpful to remember the Gospel text from three weeks back, when James and John came to Jesus to asked that they be granted the seats on Jesus’ right and left when he comes into glory (Mark 10:35-45). Jesus’ instruction to his disciples was “…whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first will be slave of all” (Mark 10:43). Jesus’ own disciples also seem to be looking for places of distinction and honor much like the scribes Jesus is warning about in today’s Gospel.

Jesus’ attitude toward the scribes here is in contrast to the relations Jesus had with the scribe who had come asking about which was the greatest commandment in last week’s Gospel. Jesus said of him that he had answered with understanding and that he was not far from the kingdom of God (Mark12:34). Jesus’ attitude towards the scribes in this Gospel is the polar opposite from the mutually respectful attitude portrayed in last week’s Gospel. Here the scribes do not identify with the poor, but seem to exploit their position to enhance their position of respect in the community.

Widows were among the lowest members of society. The word itself in Hebrew carries a meaning of one who is silent, unable to speak. Women were expected to remain within the interior of the house while men occupied the public arena. A woman who became a widow normally moved to the home of her father, brother, or married son. If that was not possible, she was usually forced to beg.

The second part of the Gospel text for today is linked to the first by the word widow. By putting the two texts next to each other, Mark emphasized the self-indulgent behavior of the scribes. To support the temple treasury, thirteen trumpet-shaped chests were placed in the courtyard. When coins were placed into these, the sounds of the coins could be heard by others. Donations of large coins made significantly more noise as they fell to the bottom. The coin that the widow used was the smallest, its value was about 1/64 of the daily wage of a laborer, and attracted little attention as it fell to the bottom. But by including the detail, the emphasis is not on the noise her offering made but on the quality of her offering. Mark makes sure his audience is aware that her intention is to hold nothing back, not even one of her small coins.

Jesus’ comments have a tone of lament rather than praise for the widow’s generosity. The widow, like the other people of the day, has been taught by the scribes the value of sacrificial giving. The temple offerings are designated to be used for the care of the needy. But there is a hidden presumption that these scribes have been using some of the funds to enhance their own appearance.

Truly the widow has given all that she had to live on, demonstrating her total trust in God to take care of her. Her gift will not enhance her status or reputation, like the large gifts of the others. The widow’s gift is a gift of herself, her very life in service to God. Her gift will not affect anyone else but herself. While the widow may have great trust in God, the larger situation of the religious leadership of the day is troubling Jesus.

Reflection Questions:

1. What are some of the reasons people choose to give to charities, churches, and institutions?
2. What are some of the reasons you choose to make donations and where you choose to make your donations?
3. Are their reasons that you do not make donations?
4. Who are the people without a voice in your community?
5. Are there also people in your community who make a special effort to hear the voices of those who are usually not heard?
6. What are some of the feelings and attitudes this widow might have faced as she came to make her offering?
7. What are some of the things Jesus seem to have noticed about this widow?
8. Can you take some time to talk with God about your awareness of yourself as you reflected on this Gospel text? What would you like to say to God? How does God want to respond to you?