Gospel Meditation

November 7, 2021
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

On December 10, 1979, a very petite holy woman known as Mother Teresa of Calcutta spoke these words in her Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech, “But I am sure in the families and many of our homes, maybe we are not hungry for a piece of bread, but maybe there is somebody there in the family who is unwanted, unloved, uncared, forgotten, there isn’t love. Love begins at home. And love to be true has to hurt. I never forget a little child who taught me a very beautiful lesson. They heard in Calcutta, the children, that Mother Teresa had no sugar for her children, and this little one, Hindu boy four years old, he went home and he told his parents: I will not eat sugar for three days, I will give my sugar to Mother Teresa. How much a little child can give. After three days they brought into our house, and there was this little one who could scarcely pronounce my name, he loved with great love, he loved until it hurt. And this is what I bring before you, to love one another until it hurts, but don’t forget that there are many children, many children, many men and women who haven’t got what you have. And remember to love them until it hurts.”

Living authentically and walking with holiness always involves sacrifice. It has to hurt. Only actions springing from true and deep sacrifice demonstrate true integrity. Without sacrifice, even what is apparently a generous gesture can be nothing. It is no wonder that the widow who contributed from her poverty received great admiration from Jesus and the young child in our story above the interest of Mother Teresa. It is easy to make the houses of our lives look like they are in perfect order when in fact they are in shambles within. Religion can sometimes make this hypocritical masquerade easy to accomplish. We can find ourselves in all the right holy places, reciting all of the correct prayers, participating in community collections, and reciting the proper doctrines only to find ourselves empty, shallow, self-focused, and overly anxious about personal concerns.

The one who learns to discover their inner poverty, their spiritual poverty, is the only one who can truly place him or herself at the mercy of God. It is only when we allow ourselves to be empty that we realize Who we actually need to fill us. This is the real meaning of trust. Many of us are afraid to take the plunge. We allow ourselves to detach from only so much, always keeping a watchful eye on the protection of our securities. We understand the value of poverty, but we do not want to become too poor. As long as we are able to recognize this tension, our reluctance to let go and our struggle, we can continue our journey of humbly learning how to love so deeply that it hurts. God understands and waits. 

©LPi

MEDITACIÓN EVANGÉLICO ~ (Gospel Meditation)

7 de noviembre de 2021
32º Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario

En la liturgia de hoy, Jesús nos enseña lo que vale ante Dios. Sus ejemplos ayudan a clarificar lo que existe en el corazón de cada uno según su posición y estatus económico. Por un lado, Jesús condena algunas actitudes y alaba otras. Desenmascara y confronta a los escribas y maestros de la ley, y alaba la ofrenda de la viuda. Él observaba cuidadosamente para enseñar lo correcto, lo que lleva a vivir con dignidad. Había visto el sufrimiento de los pobres, de los enfermos, de los huérfanos y de las viudas.  También, veía como los ricos se aprovechaban de los más pobres; no había ninguna consideración para ellos, les cobraban impuestos, les hacían cumplir leyes injustas que ni ellos mismos cumplían.

Ahora, ¿cómo hacemos para compartir lo que tenemos? ¿Damos de lo que nos sobra, como los ricos de los tiempos de Jesús o somos como la viuda de Sarepta y la del Evangelio que generosamente dieron lo que tenían desde su pobreza? Actualmente, es digno de resaltar la grandeza de los pobres, de los inmigrantes que son ricos en bendiciones porque su confianza está puesta en Dios. Recordemos, siempre, que Dios ve los corazones y no las apariencias. Lo que da valor es el amor con que se hacen las cosas. “Yo les aseguro que esta viuda pobre ha dado más que todos los otros” (Marcos 12:43). En resumen, el mundo necesita generosidad y confianza al máximo.Oremos con el Salmo 145: “Da el Señor protección al forastero, y reanima al huérfano y a la viuda, mas desvía el camino de los malvados, El Señor reina para siempre, tu Dios, Sion, de generación en generación”.

©LPi