by Dcn Andrew Loh
1 Kings 17:10-16
Psalm 145:7-10
Hebrews 9:24-28
Mark 12:38-44
Theme: Generosity That Costs You is the Kind That Transforms You
We see the elements of generosity and sacrifice in the Readings of today.
In the First Reading and in the Gospel, we see the sacrifices of each widow in those Readings. And in the Second Reading, we see the sacrifice of Christ in giving up His life for us.
It is all about sacrificial generosity.
Peter Kreeft said this:
Only in a world where faith is difficult can faith exist.
And in the Gospel, Jesus also talks about the Scribes who feel entitled due to self-importance and self-righteousness.
Do we take on shades of the attitude of these Scribes?
Do we feel that we are better and holier than our neighbour?
What are our inner motivations like?
Perhaps we wear different spirituality masks to suit each different occasions.
Are we inconsistent in our behaviour? Do we act a certain way in church and another way at home and then another way at our workplace?
Perhaps we have different sets of moral principles for different situations or when mingling with different crowds.
In the Gospel, we also see the poor widow giving the two coins to the treasury. It is really about love and sacrifice. It is about sacrifice and not merely spare change.
Philosopher Michael Novak said:
Love is not a feeling of happiness. Love is a willingness to sacrifice.
Sacrifice and selflessness involve placing the needs and desires of another above our own. We need to humanise ourselves and to humanise others.
Author Wayne Miller said this about serving others:
As we serve others, we are working on ourselves. Every act, every word, every gesture of genuine compassion naturally nourishes our own hearts as well. It is not a question of who heal first. When we attend to ourselves with compassion and mercy, more healing is made available for others. And when we serve others with an open and generous heart, great healing comes to us.
So let us at this Mass ask the Holy Spirit to empower us as we strive to be true disciples of Christ and to give us the courage to suffer, to sacrifice and to serve.
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