November 11, 2018
Mark 12:38-44
We all are so familiar with this parable and we need no explanation to what it means. Yet I found some beautiful explanation given by a priest with a chart explaining how accounting works. Though when it comes to forgiving each other and relating to each other Christ teaches us that accounting does not work whereas here the Lord teaches us while giving how it works.
Think that A gave 10$ B gave 20$ and C gave 50$ obviously we think that one who gave 50$ gave more than all else. But what if A had no job, works only for few hours and makes very small amount for living and C has big business and has huge assets and big profits in millions. Considering all the facts I am sure all of us will say that A gave much more than the rest. Many a times I have heard from the past that those who have small incomes, small jobs and living on pensions give much more than the wealthiest who could give much more.
I was hearing Bishop Fulton and in one of his homilies he says that show me the scars of your giving. Our giving makes sense when it causes a dent in our capital assets. When it hurts us in giving: we have really given something. In other words unless and until we feel that we have given up something it is not giving. When we give something from the surplus that we have, giving something that we do not need is throwing away and not giving.
In the first reading we see how that poor widow gave away her food having nothing more than needed for a meal for her and for her son. Gave up some portion of her own meal sacrificing from what she had for herself and her son. She knew that after having that one meal they are going to die of hunger. Yet the widow sacrificed from all that she had. Jesus teaches us that kingdom of God is worth sacrificing all that we have.
The kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. A man found it, and he concealed it. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” (Matthew 13:44)
Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. ” (Matthew 13:45-46)
In today’s reading Jesus tells us, “For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.”
All the disciples sacrificed their living, their boats, their nets and all that they had including family and relationships to Christ to be disciples. Millions have responded to the call given by Christ to give away all that they have in order to enter the kingdom of God. Church is an institution built on the sweat and blood of millions of named and unnamed martyrs and saints.
St. Francis of Assisi tell us that it is in giving that we receive. Jesus promises that we will be paid back for our giving. “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Jesus tells us. (Luke 6:38)
In Acts 4:33- 35 we find “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.”
This is how the church began and continued all these beautiful churches and properties that we have today are result of the whole hearted sacrifices of the devoted people most of them sacrificed all that they had to be part of the kingdom. Even today Lord teaches us that Kingdom of God is worth more than all that we have. I want to repeat what Bishop Fulton J Sheen said, “Can we show him the scars of our giving as we enter His Kingdom?”
