Prudent and poison

The text today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary from the Book of Daniel, though set in the time of the Babylonian Exile was, according to Friar Jude Winkler and other authorities, written during the reign of Seleucid emperor Antiochus IV who defiled the Temple of Jerusalem in 168 BC, perhaps in an attempt to seize the temple treasure. The author of this text encourages the readers to reject the demand of the Greek conquerors to participate in Greek customs of worship and consumption of non-kosher food. This course of action was certainly not prudent or politically correct. The intention of the rulers was to assimilate the Jewish people into the political culture. The Gospel from Luke also challenges us to consider rejection of the prudent act in favour of acting out of love and trusting Providence. The culture in which we live does not support or understand the decision of the widow in the Gospel who gives all she has to the Temple treasury. We certainly could come up with a list of many modern values of responsibility, credit worthiness and even contribution to the economy which might be used to demonstrate the irresponsibility of her action. How can Jesus praise this gift?  Homilists like John Jay Hughes see Jesus recognizing the motivation behind the gift as Love. We may have the opportunity to be as loving in our contributions to others as the widow. This action will not only help increase the role of faith in our daily life, it will open us to be more generous in family life and in financial assistance to the destitute, as noted by MaryanneRouse of Creighton University. Decisions of Faith, which are not seen as prudent by the dominant culture, are a means to work against the constant pressure for assimilation into the culture driven by commercial gain which is losing Love based orientation.