A Reflection on the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, November 7, 2021
Reading I: 1 Kings 17:10-16
Responsorial Psalm: 146:7, 8-9, 9-10
Reading II: Hebrews 9:24-28
Gospel: Mark 12:38-44 or 12:41-44
This Sunday’s Mass readings remind us that God accepts even our smallest offerings, as long as we bring what we can. Maybe what we have to offer is embarrassingly small. Maybe it’s humbling to offer it, compared to the seemingly more generous gifts of others.
In the Old Testament reading, a widow offers her last bit of food to the prophet Elijah, and God miraculously refills her flour and oil during a year of famine.
In the Gospel reading, Jesus watches as crowds come to the temple, many offering large sums of money. His heart is moved by a poor widow who gives very little compared to everyone else, but she gives all she has:
“This poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury,” Jesus tells his disciples. “For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had.”
A song by Matt Maher compares the widow’s mite to the humble offering we bring of ourselves to God. He writes: “A widow’s mite, my will and pride; It’s all I have to offer anyway. I’m holding onto Your love; I’m letting go of myself; I’ll say so long to everything else.”
Letting Go
I stand in awe of You
And everything You’ve done for me
You speak Your words into my life
And where You are is where I wanna be
I stand before You, Lord
Humbled by the love You give away
A widow’s mite, my will and pride
It’s all I have to offer anyway
I’m holding onto Your love
I’m letting go of myself
I’ll say so long to everything else
I stand in awe of You
And everything You’ve done for me
You speak Your words into my life
And where You are is where I wanna be
I stand before You, Lord
Humbled by the love You give away
A widow’s mite, my will and pride
It’s all I have to offer anyway
I’m holding onto Your love
I’m letting go of myself
I’m holding onto Your love
I’m letting go of myself
I’ll say so long to everything else
I just wanna be in Your arms
I just wanna be in Your arms
Moving ever closer to Your heart
To Your heart
I just wanna be in Your arms
I just wanna be in Your arms
Moving ever closer to Your heart
To Your heart
I just wanna be in Your arms
I just wanna be in Your arms
Moving ever closer to Your heart
To Your heart.
Authors: Wally & Charlene Bader
