SHE GAVE ALL SHE HAD
INTRODUCTORY RITES
Gather as a family/ community; create an environment appropriate for prayer (dress appropriately - switch off your phones...).
We are conscious that Christ is present not only in the Blessed Sacrament but also in the Scriptures and in our hearts. Even when we are on our own, we remain part of the Body of Christ.
Place lighted candles, a crucifix, and the Bible on a covered table. These remind us of the sacredness of our time of prayer and could help us feel connected with our local worshipping communities.
You may sing or play an appropriate hymn. For instance:
The Sign of the Cross
Greeting and Introductory Words
L: The Lord invites us to the table of his Word: let us bless him for his goodness.
A: Blessed be God forever.
L: The biblical model of giving is a tithe, a tenth of what comes in from God’s hands. What matters is not so much the percentage, but the desire to give God the first fruits of our labour rather than the leftovers. There is another biblical model of giving: that is giving everything!
We pray for the strength to do this; we pray that we may trust God as we give him our all.
Penitential Rite
L: We ask the Lord to forgive us for the times we have not given ourselves to him and our neighbour.
Pause
L: Lord Jesus, you called blessed those who are poor in spirit:
Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you praised the widow who have two small coins:
Christ, have mercy.
A: Christ, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you gave yourself completely to your Father:
Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
A: Amen.
Gloria
Opening Prayer
L: God, our provider,
you are the orphan’s hope and the widow’s bread.
Strengthen our faith,
that with simplicity of heart
we may come to trust in you alone
and hold back nothing in serving you.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
A: Amen.
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
Readings
The readings are those assigned for the day in the Lectionary.
Preferably use a Bible/ Lectionary for reading.
Reading 1 1 Kings 17:10-16
Psalm Psalm 146:7, 8-9, 9-10
Response Praise the Lord, my soul!
Reading 2 Hebrews 9:24-28
Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Gospel Mark 12:38-44 or 12:41-44
Reflection on the Readings
Use one of the following ways to reflect on the readings.
Lectio Divina
Imagine you are in the Temple watching the people put money in the treasury. What are your thoughts and feelings when you see the woman put two small coins; when you hear Jesus’ remark?
Sunday Snippets
In the late 70s, a young man walked into church one evening with his first salary: a thousand rupees. After communion, the celebrant announced a collection for the new parish school. When the ushers reached the man, he put his salary envelope into the collection!
Sharing about the incident, he said: “I didn’t know from where my next meal would come but I put my entire salary into the collection. I was reckless! Today I make several times that amount. But I’m sure I won’t repeat that action.” He added something profound: “When we possess much, we find it difficult to give it all.”
The reverse is certainly true in today’s readings!
The widow of Zarephath gave everything she had, her son’s and her own last meal, to a foreigner whose God she did not even worship. And this God provided for her!
The widow in the temple offered two of the smallest coins in circulation. In the arithmetic of the kingdom, the widow’s mite is worth more than all the other contributions. While the others gave from their surplus, she gave all that she had. The two coins made up the total of resources. God must have provided for her.
Last Sunday we concentrated on the “Great Commandment”. The ultimate love towards God is found in these two widows.
Right through this section in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus has shown the emptiness of the Pharisees’ religion; he now presents this widow as an example of someone who gives all she has to God. Further, the poor widow typifies what Jesus has done and will do – give everything, give himself as an offering to God.
Jesus hopes that his disciples will take their cue not from the scribes’ ostentation but from the widow’s piety and generosity.
If these poor widows could give everything to God, if a young man could give his whole salary for God’s work, what about me: What am I going to put into the “temple treasury” this week? Will I be recklessly generous and trust in divine providence?
True generosity is measured not by what I give, but by what I have left over after I give!
Questions to Ponder
Reflect on some (or all) of the following questions:
Reading 1: Elijah asks the widow to give away the last bits of flour reserved for her final meal. Was it a leap of faith for her? Do I have such radical trust? On a scale of one to ten, let me rate my ability to give!
Reading 2: Compare Christ’s sacrifice with those of the two widows.
Gospel: What can I give to God and his people? How can I develop a magnanimous heart and respond more generously to the needs around me?
What is my level of trust in God? Do I give him my all or do I “contribute from my surplus”?
The Creed
Prayer of the Faithful
L: Let us pray to God our generous Father, who loves the weak and the humble, and let us pray for all those who are poor: Lord, hear our prayer.
R: For the Church: that we may grow in our reliance upon God’s providence and confidently entrust all our needs to him who loves us, we pray…
R: For all in public service: that the Spirit may help them to serve honestly and to use their skills faithfully to address the pressing issues of the day, we pray…
R: For widows and single mothers: that they may find encouragement in the Christian Community and receive the support they need to be faithful disciples, we pray…
R: For refugees, outcasts, and the forgotten of society: that the Lord may open hearts to their struggles and inspire communities to work to ease their suffering, we pray…
R: For all who are sick, particularly those chronic illnesses: that God’s healing love may give them strength, relieve their suffering, and renew their spirits, we pray…
R: For ourselves: that we may generously share our resources and ourselves in the service of God and neighbour, we pray…
L: Father, we know that you love us and care for us with the tenderness of a mother. We entrust all our cares to you. Be generous to us and make us generous like you. Through Christ our Lord.
A: Amen.
SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
The Lord’s Prayer
Spiritual Communion
A: Jesus, I know and believe in your real presence in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. It is you I desire to love and receive above all things. As I am unable to receive your sacramental presence now, come and be with me in heart and soul. Let my entire self be united with you as I welcome you again and know your loving embrace. Amen.
Post Spiritual Communion Reflection
She had only a handful of flour in her jar
and a little oil in her jug.
She gave all she had.
Her jars of flour did not go empty,
nor did her jugs of oil run dry.
Two coins were all she had.
She gave all she had.
Lord,
give me grace
not to count the cost…
to let go
of my handful of flour and little oil,
of my two coins.
Let me trust your promises
just as the widows trusted you.
Take all that I have and all I am.
Your grace is enough for me.
CONCLUDING RITE
Concluding Prayer
L: God with the heart of a parent,
you care for the poor,
give justice to the oppressed
and food to the hungry.
In your Son Jesus, you have shown us
how to give not from our surplus but ourselves.
Confound our calculations
and change our self-interest
into generous sharing.
Through Christ our Lord.
A: Amen.
Blessing
L: The Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and lead us to everlasting life.
A: Amen.
L: Go in the peace of Christ.
A: Thanks be to God.
Conclude with a hymn. For instance:
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