The Widow’s Mite: Reflections on the readings for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

God takes care of widows and orphans. One of the many laws dictated to the Israelites during the Exodus was: “You shall not wrong any widow or orphan. If ever you wrong them and they cry out to me, I will surely listen to their cry. [And] My wrath will flare up ...” (Exodus 22:21-23)

In fact, it was the cause of caring for widows that prompted the initiation of the diaconate among whom was St. Stephen, the first martyr (Acts 6:1-7). And widows are the main characters this Sunday as they are mentioned repeatedly in the readings.

In the first reading we see Elijah’s encounter with a widow who is bordering on starvation. All she has left is a handful of flour and a few drops of oil. Nevertheless, Elijah encourages her with words we often hear from Jesus, “Do not be afraid.” After asking her to make a cake for him Elijah tells her to take care of herself and her son and to trust God. “For the LORD, the God of Israel, says, ‘The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry’ ...” We see Elijah’s words fulfilled as the flour and oil sustained the widow for a year.

The first line of the responsorial psalm almost reads as a continuance of the story in the first reading, “The LORD keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry.” It later states that the Lord sustains the fatherless and the widow. The responsorial also includes a warning statement to the wicked as they will be thwarted.

At this point some will ask, “when will the wicked be thwarted.” Here we need to hearken back to Elijah’s words to not be afraid for the Catechism tells us, “In time we can discover that God in his almighty providence can bring a good from the consequences of an evil, even a moral evil, caused by his creatures ...” (CCC 312) We also know from St. Peter that God’s time is different from our sense of time. “But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Peter 3:8) It is our duty to stand firm for “the Lord loves the just.”

Some might say that the results of the 2024 elections indicate a turnaround but, if so, it is only the beginning. There is much to be done. As the responsorial says, “The Lord loves the just.” There is still a lot of conversion required before we will be set free. “The dungeon in which we ourselves imprison ourselves is our selves. … We forge the chains of our own bondage. We use our freedom to destroy our freedom. We need a savior.” Dr. Peter Kreeft, Food for the Soul, Cycle C, (Jesus came to free the captives. We are the captives, and we have enslaved ourselves by our sin. We need Jesus in order to break those chains.)

The second reading not only continues the lesson about Jesus as our high priest, but also raises the issue of the four last things: death, judgment, heaven, and hell. “Just as it is appointed that human beings die once, and after this the judgment ...” Jesus is in heaven so “that he might now appear before God on our behalf.” He has made the true sacrifice to take away sin. And he will be there “to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.” But, in order to be ready for the second coming, we must make ourselves just, by taking care of our neighbors and, especially, widows and orphans unlike the scribes who Jesus takes to task in the gospel.

Not only do we need to take care of others, but Jesus cautions us as to how we do this. "Beware of the scribes, ... They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext
recite lengthy prayers.” Jesus then describes how people put large sums in the treasury (probably to be seen doing so), but it really wasn’t a sacrifice for them as it came from their excess. Meanwhile a poor widow put in two small coins, all she had. Jesus notes, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury.”

We all have something to give. Even if we aren’t rich in terms of money, we have time, talents, prayers, and so on that we can offer for others. People often say they don’t have time for prayer. To make time to pray, especially for others, is a sacrifice. A sacrifice worth making. We used to tell people it is better to give than receive. Often people find that in giving they receive intangible graces. This is part of the lesson of the Beatitudes (Matt. 5:3-12, Luke 6:20-23).

There are many today who lust after the false idols of money, power, and fame. We, as Catholics, should know better. In and of themselves these things are not necessarily bad, it is just that when we pursue them ahead of pursuing heaven that we get into trouble. “Evil becomes possible when human beings decide to use the good things that God created in ways that are not truly part of their purpose.” Fr. Mitch Pacwa, How to Listen When God is Speaking