THIRTY SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (B)

THIRTY SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (B)

Mark 12, 38-44

 Translated by Rev. Fr. Valentine de Souza S.J. 

Rev. Fr.Valentine de Souza S.J. 

  As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.”

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

The contrast between the two scenes could not be stronger. In the first, Jesus puts people on their guard against religious leaders: “Beware of the teachers of the Law!”, their conduct can cause much harm. In the second, he calls his disciples to take note of the gesture of a poor widow: simple people can teach them to live the Gospel.

 The hard and unmistakable language Jesus uses to unmask the false religiosity of the scribes is surprising. He cannot bear their vanity and their fondness for showing off. They seek to dress in a special way, and to be greeted with reverence, to stand out over against others, to assert themselves, and dominate.

 Religion serves them to feed their conceit. They recite “long prayers” to create an impression. They do not create community, for they place themselves above all others. Basically, they only think of themselves. They thrive on taking advantage of weak people, the ones they ought to serve.

 In the second scene, Jesus is seated in front of the treasury box for offerings. Many rich people were throwing in large amounts: those who maintain the Temple. Soon a woman goes over to the box. Jesus observes her dropping in two very small copper coins. She’s a poor widow, battered by life, alone without resources. She probably survives begging next to the Temple.

 Mark does not report the words of Jesus to condemn the scribes who were in the Temple of Jerusalem before its destruction, but to put on their guard the Christian communities for whom he writes. Religious leaders ought to be servants of the community, nothing more. If they forget this, they are a danger for all. They must react so that they do not cause harm.

 Deeply moved, Jesus quickly gathers his disciples. They must not forget the gesture of this woman, for, although in dire straits, “she threw in all she had to live on.” While the lawyers take advantage of religion, this woman gives away everything for the others, trusting wholly in God.

 Her gesture reveals the heart of true religion: great trust in God, amazing gratitude, generosity, simplicity, truth and love that begets solidarity. We do not know the name of this woman or her face. We only know that Jesus saw in her a model for future leaders of his Church.

 Also today, so many men and women of simple faith and generous hearts are the best we have in the Church. They don’t write books, or give sermons, but they are the ones who keep alive the Gospel of Jesus among us. We priests and bishops must learn from them.

Proclaim the Gospel lived by simple people

Jose Antonio Pagola, vgentza@euskalnet.net , San Sebastian, Guipuzcoa, Spain.

English Translation by Valentine de Souza S.J. Mandal, Gujarat , India.394650