1ST READING
What was going through the mind of the widow as she complied to Elijah’s request for food? Perhaps she was thinking that it did not matter if she and her son had one less meal before they died and so she gave the last of her food to Elijah. Her generosity, in turn, elicited an incredible response from God – a miracle no less! Her meal and oil stores became inexhaustible. This is a simple lesson to us about God’s providence. Whatever little we have is always sufficient in the hands of God Who has everything in abundance.
1 Kings 17:10-16
10 In those days, Elijah the prophet went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the entrance of the city, a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her, “Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink.” 11 She left to get it, and he called out after her, “Please bring along a bit of bread.” 12 She answered, “As the Lord, your God, lives, I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar and a little oil in my jug. Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks, to go in and prepare something for myself and my son; when we have eaten it, we shall die.” 13 Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid. Go and do as you propose. But first make me a little cake and bring it to me. Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son. 14 For the Lord, the God of Israel, says, ‘The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’” 15 She left and did as Elijah had said. She was able to eat for a year, and he and her son as well; 16 the jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, as the Lord had foretold through Elijah.
P S A L M
Psalm 146:7, 8-9, 9-10
R: Praise the Lord, my soul!
7 The Lord keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets captives free. (R) 8 The Lord gives sight to the blind. The Lord raises up those that were bowed down; the Lord loves the just. 9 The Lord protects strangers. (R) The fatherless and the widow he sustains, but the way of the wicked he thwarts. 10 The Lord shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia. (R)
2ND READING
The Eucharist is the once-for-all-time sacrifice of Jesus. He dies only once. The Eucharist is a re-presentation of the sacrifice He made on Calvary. We all share in and commune with Him in His sacrifice. This is the power of the sacrament we celebrate. We should deepen our understanding of the Eucharist so that we will better benefit from its effects.
Hebrews 9:24-28
24 Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one, but heaven itself, that he might now appear before God on our behalf. 25 Not that he might offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary with blood that is not his own; 26 if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly from the foundation of the world. But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages to take away sin by his sacrifice. 27 Just as it is appointed that human beings die once, and after this the judgment, 28 so also Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.
GOSPEL
The life of a Christian is characterized by humility and grace. The meaning of Christianity is rooted in service. Christ came to serve and not to be served. His examples are His ministry and passion. Church leaders need to reflect on the call to serve and ensure that the witness of their lives is not one of privilege but of service.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mark 12:38-44
38 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, 39 seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation.” 41 He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. 43 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. 44 For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.”
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