Daily Gospel Reflection
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November 22, 2021
When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people
putting their offerings into the treasury
and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins.
He said, “I tell you truly,
this poor widow put in more than all the rest;
for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”
No biblical scholars are needed to provide commentary to today’s gospel. Jesus’ observation makes perfect sense. He doesn’t pass judgment on the wealthy who give from their surplus but leaves no question who made the greater sacrifice.
If you are like me, you might be tempted to say, “Nice story, now what’s for breakfast?” But the knot in the pit of my stomach is there for a reason. It’s there to remind me to take a closer look into my faith. How do I handle the material blessings I have received? Do I put my faith in God to provide what I need, or do I hold on a bit too tightly to things that I perceive to be of value?
I doubt that I will ever have the courage of the poor widow. She gave all that she had, and that requires an unshakeable faith. Where can I, a flawed follower, possibly start to emulate her great faith?
Perhaps I can begin by reflecting on the things I don’t have in surplus. Of course this will be different for each of us but let’s consider. What if we committed to sacrifice time or increase our patience or our empathy with those around us in need? Maybe in giving those sacrifices generously, we can begin to narrow the faith gap between ourselves and this great lady of faith.
As Jesus observed the poor woman placing the two coins in the treasury, we can be sure he will be watching our actions with interest!
Prayer
Spirit of Love, inspire us to give all we are and all we have to the building of your kingdom. Help us to realize that any abundance we have is not for our own good, but for the good of others. May we learn to enter into the spirit of the widow who gave her all so that others might benefit, even in her poverty. Divest us of anything that might slow us in the building of those places where you live and reign, Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Cecilia is one of the most venerated martyrs from early Christianity, one of the few who is invoked in a Eucharistic prayer during the celebration of the Mass. She is the patron saint of musicians.
There are few historically verifiable details from Cecilia's biography, but legends that pass on the story of her life have endured through the ages. A famous church in Cecilia's honor was built in Rome, Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, traditionally believed to be built over the site of her home, and Cecilia's body rests there.
While Cecilia was still young, her parents arranged a marriage for her with a wealthy Roman named Valerian, who was not a Christian. It is said that when she heard the music play around her during her raucous Roman wedding celebration, Cecilia barely noticed, as she was singing a hymn of love in her heart for Jesus the entire time. Cecilia had committed herself as a spouse to Christ before her marriage to Valerian. This is one of the legends that caused her to be invoked as a patron saint of musicians.
On their wedding night, Cecilia told Valerian of her commitment to God and taught him the Christian faith. Valerian converted that very night, requesting to be baptized along with his brother.
Valerian and his brother were both wealthy Roman citizens, thus, after their conversion, they dedicated their fortune to support Christian families who had suffered the death of a loved one in martyrdom. Eventually, the two brothers were captured and sentenced to death. The soldier charged with killing them was converted by their great faith, however, and, instead of killing them, took them into his house, begging that they would baptize him and his whole family.
The next day, Valerian, his brother, and the soldier were all beheaded. Cecilia made sure they were buried properly and distributed the goods of their households among the poor.
Eventually, Cecilia herself was captured for her bold proclamation of the faith and she was condemned to die by suffocation in steam baths. Despite remaining in the baths for a day and a half, Cecilia remained unharmed and able to breathe freely.
Legend has it that a soldier was sent to behead Cecilia, but after the three blows of the sword allowed by law, her head was not severed. She appeared incapacitated but peaceful, joyfully awaiting her death and union with Christ. Faithful friends gathered around her and waited with her until she died three days later. She was buried by the pope himself.
In 1599, when Cecilia's body was exhumed from under the church in Rome, it was reportedly found incorrupt, as though she had just been laid in the ground.
Some of St. Cecilia’s relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica.
St. Cecilia, patron saint of musicians—pray for us!