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Written by Msgr. David Ratermann
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Sunday, 08 November 2009 |
Msgr. Ratermann is a founder of the Latin America Apostolate, and served in Bolivia from 1956 to 2008.
 32nd SUNDAY (B) NOVEMBER 8, 2009 - TWO WIDOWS SUNDAY
I Kings: 17:10-16
Psalm 146
Hebrews 9: 24-28
Mark 12: 38-44
The widow of Zarephath (city outside Israel in pagan territory) acted with gracious hospitality in spite of her extreme difficulty brought on by widespread famine that meant almost certain death for her and her son. Whatever faith she had in whatever god, her behavior was an extremely generous and gracious example of hospitality to a STRANGER, a prophet of Israel, God’s chosen people! The widow confides totally and absolutely in her god… or is it the God of the prophet Elijah?
I’ve been the recipient of a similar kind of hospitality from Indian women out in the distant provinces (or counties) of the Bolivian highlands 100 miles from the city of a Paz. I remember visiting homes there and how in one case, an Indian woman literally had two eggs in the house. She prepared them both for me! And I asked myself: What’s going on here? She is hospitable to an extreme beyond extremes, just like the widow of Zarephath… and just like the widow Jesus praises in today’s Gospel!
Quite often the really poor are also extremely generous in the way they practice hospitality. Jesus himself praises the widow in the temple: “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she, out of her poverty, has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
There is an unbelievable contrast here: the rich contribute impressively, but out of their abundance of possessions... and the poor share everything they have: It’s a clear cut case of GREED vs. NEED. Clearly it seems that GREED wins the day with the rich and NEED wins the day with the poor.
Quite obviously, this Gospel message is written for us… here…today. I can take the high moral ground and rail against the Pharisees and doctors of the Law; I can also praise the poor widows. But that is just the beginning. I must also ask myself: Do I face the same problem today? Is there a problem in our world of today? Is it a problem of GREED vs. NEED?
Is all this related to today’s economic downturn & depression? Is it GREED vs. NEED?
Is it related to extravagant use of resources when one car carries but one driver? GREED vs. NEED? What about extravagant and even wasteful use of our world’s energy supply? GREED vs. NEED?
Is it related to our military budgets of hundreds of billions every year? GREED vs. NEED?
What about our problems with health and education in poorer areas? GREED vs. NEED?
Can I myself sincerely pray the Canticle in the book of the prophet Habakkuk, chap. 3: Though the fig tree blossom not… nor fruit be on the vines… though the yield of the olive fail… and the terraces produce no nourishment; though the flocks disappear from the fold… and there be no herd in the stalls… yet will I rejoice in the Lord… and exult in my saving God!
I’m really not very poor. You people of the Archdiocese take very good care of me. I live in a retirement home called Regina Cleri which is a very comfortable place to live. We have there a great staff of people who help me and my brother priests (over 30 of us), so my retirement at age 84 is quite well taken care of. Life always presents a few problems; yet I’m probably better off than most. I have lots to be grateful for. However, there’s no point in going on a guilt trip. What can I do? What can we do?
I can cut back on lots of things I really do not need. In fact I’d probably be better off by doing so. I can share blessings… my time, my talents and my treasure with many people who are far more in need than I. And last but not least I can hold all those needy folks up to the Lord in prayer.
“WHATSOVER YOU DO TO THE LEAST OF MY PEOPLE, THAT YOU DO UNTO ME!” THAT IS EVANGELIZING!
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