The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate how our works of generosity acknowledge the graciousness of God.
A Generous Community
The reading from the Book of Tobit describes how addressing Raphael’s wages discloses his identity.
* [12:12] Raphael is one of the seven Angels of the Presence, specially designated intercessors who present prayers to God. Angelology was developing in this period. The names of two other of these seven angels are given in the Bible: Gabriel (Dn 8:16; 9:21; Lk 1:19, 26) and Michael (Dn 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 9; Rev 12:7). See 1 Enoch for the names of the rest.1
The response from the Book of Tobit is the prayer of Raphael that his soul rejoices in the King of heaven.
* [13:1–18] Tobit’s hymn of praise is divided into two parts. The first part (vv. 1–8) is a song of praise that echoes themes from the psalms; the second (vv. 9–18) is addressed to Jerusalem in the style of those prophets who spoke of a new and ideal Jerusalem (Is 60; cf. Rev 21). Joyful praise: words for joy and gladness occur throughout this prayer (vv. 1, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18).2
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus denounces the Scribes and praises the widow’s offering.
* [12:38–40] See notes on Mk 7:1–23 and Mt 23:1–39.* [12:41–44] See note on Lk 21:1–4.3
Suzanne Braddock reflected on the readings and she wondered if her giving is accompanied by righteousness.
I’m pretty sure I don’t fall into that category all the time. And I certainly don’t give every penny I have. I considered that Jesus is once again using hyperbole to make a point. And He raises up as our model for giving from the heart the lowly, the outcast, the despised, the overlooked in the form of a poor widow. Surely he doesn’t expect us to donate every penny, thus impoverishing ourselves. He has set a high standard to make a point, to reveal a truth. And that point seems to me to be not to give ostentatiously, for show, but give all of yourself. Give with love. Give even the little things with great love, as St. Therese said. We are to love God with our whole heart, our whole soul, our whole mind. All that we are. God wants to give us all of Himself, and yearns for us to give all of ourselves in grateful response. Let’s challenge ourselves to meet God’s generosity with our own.4
Don Schwager quotes “Mercy and compassion are never worthless,” by Leo the Great, 400-461 A.D.
"Although the spite of some people does not grow gentle with any kindness, nevertheless the works of mercy are not fruitless, and kindness never loses what is offered to the ungrateful. May no one, dearly beloved, make themselves strangers to good works. Let no one claim that his poverty scarcely sufficed for himself and could not help another. What is offered from a little is great, and in the scale of divine justice, the quantity of gifts is not measured but the steadfastness of souls. The 'widow' in the Gospel put two coins into the 'treasury,' and this surpassed the gifts of all the rich. No mercy is worthless before God. No compassion is fruitless. He has given different resources to human beings, but he does not ask different affections." (excerpt from SERMON 20.3.1.6)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 12:38-44 asks if we are occupied with just making ends meet or if we have so many obligations at home or at work that keep us from giving much to the Lord.
Today may be a day of poverty for you. You may be working through an illness, or you may have no wiggle room that will allow you to reach out to other people or to spend extra time in prayer. But that doesn’t mean that the day is lost or that God is unhappy with you. With a little creativity and a firm faith in a loving God, you can find a way to give some of what little you have. Even a quick prayer for a friend or a short text message offering encouragement can bear great fruit. If it is a sacrifice of love, God will bless it! “Lord, help me find ways to share a portion of however much or little time and energy I have today.”6
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the ways Raphael finds God’s ways manifest in the life of Tobit. Of the seven archangels in Jewish belief, three are mentioned in the Bible. Friar Jude underlines that we are called to do the best we can in sharing with others.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Louis M. Savary, a Jesuit for thirty years and who has been studying, writing, and teaching on his fellow Jesuit Teilhard de Chardin for over fifty years. He introduces a version of the Ignatian Examen that emphasizes our participation with God’s desire for evolution by increasing our awareness of goodness, gratitude, possibility, and love.
This process is known as the Thanksgiving Examen. . . .
1. To give thanks in general to God our Lord for the benefits received in your life, in others, and in the world today.
2. To ask for grace to recognize all those particular things that happened to you and others that you should personally be grateful for.
3. To take account of your day from the hour that you arose up to the present time, hour by hour, or period by period: first your good thoughts, ideas, and intentions; then your good words spoken and heard; and then good acts, your actions and those of others, small or large, that positively touched your life or the life of someone else. Record these in your journal.
4. To praise and thank God our Lord for all the opportunities you had to make a difference in the world today and to inspire you to recognize more and more such opportunities in the future.
5. To thank God for all God has done for you, and to ask yourself: What can I envision doing that would lead me to be even more deeply grateful? Close with the Our Father [or another prayer with deep significance for you].7
We manifest the Presence of God in our lives when we care for the needs of others.
References
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