Building love with widows and orphans

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary offer two very different circumstances for our contemplation today. The Book of the Prophet Hosea is a development of the idea applied to the northern kingdom of Israel that if they “sow the wind, they shall reap the whirlwind”.

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The actions of the people to accept the modification their practice of worship of God to be more convenient and keep more power over their lives in the hands of the ruler of the northern kingdom while the poor and disadvantaged in the population are ignored and pagan influence allows the idols of prosperous living to dampen the effect of the Law in their lives will bring them defeat and exile at the hands of the Assyrians. The psalmist characterizes the lifelessness of the idols which may compete for our attention. In Jesus time, the phrase “widows and orphans” was used to identify a group of people who would fit the description of being “like sheep without a shepherd” which is used today by Jesus in the Gospel from Matthew. A consequence then, and even today, of the death of the father in a family may be separation from needed care and support which Carol Zuegner advocates we combat by the daily activities of kindness and generosity in which we give time and support to others. This will strengthen the bonds of our communities and when the particular situation of becoming widow or orphan is our reality, the community will be able to confirm the reality of the special concern of God for widows and orphans identified by Susan M. Watkins by acts of presence and kindness. The fruitless results of sowing the wind can be contrasted with the deep healing and support that we can be to others by simple acts.