The Widows Offering

NOVEMBER 21, 2022, MONDAY

Memorial of The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (White)

(FINAL WEEK of the LITURGICAL CALENDAR YEAR

CYCLE C - YEAR II)

Lectionary: 503

Reading 1

Rv 14:1-3, 4b-5

I, John, looked and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion,

and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand

who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.

I heard a sound from heaven

like the sound of rushing water or a loud peal of thunder.

The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.

They were singing what seemed to be a new hymn before the throne,

before the four living creatures and the elders.

No one could learn this hymn except the hundred and forty-four thousand

who had been ransomed from the earth.

These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes.

They have been ransomed as the first fruits

of the human race for God and the Lamb.

On their lips no deceit has been found; they are unblemished.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6

R.        (see 6) Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;

the world and those who dwell in it.

For he founded it upon the seas

and established it upon the rivers.

R.        Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?

or who may stand in his holy place?

He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,

who desires not what is vain.

R.        Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,

a reward from God his savior.

Such is the race that seeks for him,

that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.

R.        Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

Alleluia

Mt 24:42a, 44

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Stay awake!

For you do not know when the Son of Man will come.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

LK 21:1-4

When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people

putting their offerings into the treasury

and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins.

He said, “I tell you truly,

this poor widow put in more than all the rest;

for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth,

but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

The amount of what I do is not that important for God, for what matters is my generosity, what lies in my heart. I ask God for an open heart, ready to give all as this poor widow of the Gospel.

Generosity is all relative, of course. Solomon prayed: Keep me from sacrifices that cost me nothing. Teach me true large-heartedness like that of the poor widow, a generosity that gives in secret, left hand not knowing what right hand is doing, and that gives until it hurts. Lord it does not matter what others see of my actions or neglect. You see into my heart and know my generosity or selfishness. Save me, Lord, from sacrifices that cost me nothing. True generosity is not so much giving what I can easily spare as giving what I can't easily do without.

PRAYER:

Lord, help us to be generous and share the many gifts you have bestowed on us. Help us to help those who cannot help themselves, teach us how to give and not count the cost.