At every stage in the Christian spiritual journey, from the very beginning of religion, humans have been at risk. We always have the propensity to forget the important message inside a complex mesh of observance and – it is true – selfishness takes over.
Today’s Gospel, then, is a pertinent and utterly contemporary warning to us all, not only those of us who worship from the pews, but those who hold ministerial positions as bishops and priests.
How often, despite our very best intentions, do we forget the humility that Christ showed? How often do we begin to lose sight of the purpose?
It is difficult to live by traditions and yet stay disconnected enough from those traditions enough to concentrate on what they represent. Another way of putting it is this: do we sometimes give all of our due to the signpost rather than to the location towards which it points?
Signposts are important in our life of faith. But they are not the be-all and end-all. We enter, as Catholics, into a dynamic liturgical framework. And this framework is so important. But, let us not allow the cut of the vestment to take over, or be too fixated on any of those out-pointing if important agencies. Instead, let us use them indeed as signposts, important ones at that, and start walking in the direction towards which they point.
The direction, of course, is love and humility. It is integrity and truth. We find the correct steerage to our destination in the Gospels. Today’s passage is a perfect example because, whilst it was directed to a people two thousand years ago, it is also meant for us. It is pertinent to our lives. Crucial, even. Where do we begin on that walk into love?
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 12:38-44
Glory to you, O Lord.
In his teaching Jesus said,
‘Beware of the scribes who like to walk about in long robes,
to be greeted obsequiously in the market squares,
to take the front seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at banquets;
these are the men who swallow the property of widows, while making a show of lengthy prayers.
The more severe will be the sentence they receive.’
Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the treasury, and many of the rich put in a great deal. A poor widow came and put in two small coins, the equivalent of a penny.
Then he called his disciples and said to them,
‘I tell you solemnly, this poor widow has put more in than all who have contributed to the treasury; for they have all put in money they had over, but she from the little she had has put in everything she possessed, all she had to live on.’
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.