FIRST READING
Do the work of an evangelist, for I am already on the point of being sacrificed. The Lord will award me the crown of righteousness.
A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to Timothy (2 Timothy 4:1-8)
Beloved: I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths. As for you, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry. For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 71:8-9.14- 15ab. 16-17.22 (R. see 15ab)
R/. My mouth will tell of your salvation, Lord.
My mouth is filled with your praise,
with your glory, all the day long.
Do not reject me now that I am old;
when my strength fails do not forsake me. R.
But as for me, I will always hope,
and praise you more and more.
My mouth will tell of your justice,
and all the day long of your salvation. R.
R/. My mouth will tell of your salvation, Lord.
I will come with praise of your might, O Lord;
I will call to mind your justice, yours, O Lord, alone.
O God, you have taught me from my youth,
and I proclaim your wonders still. R.
So I will give you thanks on the lyre
for your faithfulness, O my God.
To you will I sing with the harp,
to you, the Holy One of Israel. R.
ALLELUIA Matthew 5 :3
Alleluia. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“This poor widow has put in more than all the others.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 12:38-44)
At that time: In his teaching Jesus said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to go about in long robes, and to have salutations in the market places and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretence make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” And he sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the multitude putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came, and put in two copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him, and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For they all contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, her whole living.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
Winston Churchill says: “We make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we get but we make a life by what we give.” People give for different reasons. Some give to be famous and trumpeted, others give that the recipients may find a life. When one cheerfully give one’s savings, he proclaims total and unconditional dependence on God and his providence. And such a giver becomes here on earth an extension of the Ultimate Giver: God himself. The poor widow’s act of giving all that she had reminds us of Jesus’ own giving to each of us guaranteeing the fullness of life. The widow, who is nobody in society becomes a great someone in the presence of God through her sacrificial and selfless giving. No gift is too small to give to God.