Today, the 2022 FIFA World Cup starts in Qatar. The tournament runs from 20 November to 18 December 2022. This is the first World Cup to be held in the Arab world. The tournament is featuring 32 participating teams. To be a good athlete involves training, discipline, and sacrifice.
Our gospel today is about sacrificial giving. It’s setting was the Court of Women, where the treasury of the temple was located. In this courtyard is situated against the wall the chests, or trumpets. The chests were called trumpets because of their trumpet-like shape, they were narrow at the top and wide at the bottom. This is where temple worshipers place their contributions. And there were thirteen chests. Each chest was labeled for a different type of offering, and the funds collected in them were earmarked for specific uses. For instance, a chest is designated for the wood that is used to burn the sacrifice or for the incense to burn on the altar, or for up keep of the sacred vessels, or collecting funds for the appointed value of turtledoves, pigeons, wood, and golden vessels respectively.
We read that on this particular day, Jesus was in the Court of Women when he observed many people, including an impoverished widow, offering contributions (Luke 21:1, 2). While the rich make donations for offerings and the widow put in two small coins.
Jesus then said to his disciples “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”
The act of giving when it hurts is a grace. It does not always involve money. We give of our time and talents to God for the love of others, the up building of the Church and the spreading of the Gospel. In the First Book of Kings, (1 Kings 17:11-14) we read about the widow of Zarephath who gave all that she had to the prophet of God, Elijah, and she was later blessed with in abundance as the Lord promised “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.”
On this memorial of the presentation of the BVM, we ponder on Mary’s fiat, which is a gift to God and humanity. Her response, “Let it be done to me according to your word,” was a great act of faith. It is total submission to the will of God.
Sometimes one may think his or her gift seems too small and insignificant. The question is really this: How does God see your daily service? Is it an acceptable sacrifice?
Mary placed her whole self at the service of God. Today God invites you and I to be open to His grace and dedicate ourselves to Him, as Mary did.
Have a wonderful week and Thanksgiving Day for those that live in the United States
