SCRIPTURE FOR EVERYDAY LIFE
                 Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING: I Kings 17:1-16
    In today's first reading, a poor widow and her son are granted an endless supply of flour and a never empty jug of oil, in return for her generosity to the prophet Elijah.  In a small village near Sidon and Tyre, during a time of drought and famine, the prophet Elijah encounters a woman who is not of his faith.  She is out gathering fuel for a fire, in order to cook the last of her depleted food supplies.  Elijah asks the widow for water and for something to eat.  She tells him that she was just about to use the last of her flour and oil to make something for herself and her son.  She then says, "When we have eaten it, we shall die." (v.12)
     God's prophet reassures her that if she bakes him a small cake to eat, that she will have enough oil and flour to last through the famine.  The widow, a Gentile non-believer in his God nonetheless carries out his request in blind faith.  She bakes him a cake from the last of her flour and oil.  True to God's word, non one in her house goes hungry through the remainder of the drought and famine, for her supply of flour and oil never run out.
     Goodness is rewarded.  The powerful lesson learned from today's reading is that we are asked to put out absolute trust and confidence in God.  This woman put her trust in the word of God, as spoken through Elijah.  Sometimes life doesn't take the turns that we had hoped for; but when we remain steadfast on our journey in faith, God will always provide.  "Hope does not disappoint," St. Paul tells us in Romans 5:5.  Like the widow in this passage, we also must adhere to the word of the Lord to help us cope in times of trial. Only then can we find healing and peace.

SECOND READING: Hebrews 9:24-28
     During the past few weeks, the second reading has compared and contrasted the roles of the Jewish high priest to that of the priesthood of Jesus.  The Jewish high priest entered the section of the temple called the Holy of Holies once a year to offer a sacrifice for the sins of all the believers.  He had to do this once a year, every year.
     By contrast, Jesus Christ is the son of God; he is our eternal high priest.  Jesus offered himself as atonement for our sins.  He didn't have to repeat a ritual year after year.  Jesus' sacrifice had an eternal impact.  He suffered and died once on the cross so that our sins might be forgiven.  Through this act, salvation was accomplished.  Jesus is the true and perfect high priest.
     Unlike the Jewish high priest who offered the blood of an animal, Jesus our high priest offered himself.  Christ has taken away our sins once and for all. (v. 26)  When he appears again, he will not come to relieve us of the consequences of our sins; that has already been done.  He will come again to bring us salvation.  We are invited to eagerly await him by remaining faithful to his teachings and by participating in the Eucharistic Liturgy. 
     The Mass gives us a sense of 'sanctuary,'where we enter sacred ground and receive the sacred Body and Blood of Christ.  We enter into this 'mystery' to recall his ultimate sacrifice and to look forward to his coming once again.  This is our ultimate hope and prayer: that we will see him again and be united with him forever in the eternal "Holy of Holies."

GOSPEL: Mark 12:38-44
     In today's Gospel, Jesus invites his disciples to contrast the actions of the self-righteous and the actions of the truly humble person who trusts completely in the providence of God.  Like the widow in the first reading, this humble widow in the temple was willing to give all she had to the temple treasury.  She put her complete trust in God.
     Jesus was teaching in the temple area, and he denounces the scribes who were making a public show of their religious generosity.  They supported the rich life-styles by taking unfair advantage of the poor and widows.  Jesus points out that for their hypocrisy and injustice toward others, they will be punished.
     The theme of this Gospel passage is: The cost of discipleship.  Jesus is pointing out that this widow is generous, for she gave all that she had and not from her surplus like the rich people.  She was utterly selfless; she gave her all.  We are also called to follow her example of seflessness and humility.
     There are always going to be people who do more for the church, as well as those who donate more than others.  What maters more to Christ is the attitude with which one gives of his/her time, treasure, or talent.  Is it done for show and tell, to gain others' approval and recognition?  The world constantly calls us to bring attention to ourselves; but it cannot be that way for the followers of Christ.  In being of service to others, one must imitate Christ, who gave his 'all,' so that we might have life.  He 'spent' himself completely in utter humiliation.