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32nd Sunday Ordinary Time – Once for all

1 Kgs. 17: 10-16; Ps. 146:7-10; Heb. 9:24-28; Mk. 12:38-44

Once for all, Jesus has come to take away our sins by his sacrifice.  Though he came for all not have received him.  He offered himself up once, not repeatedly as our high priest “that he might now appear before God on our behalf”.  The Mass is that sacrifice of his death the priest offers up for all in our world.  Some question why as Catholics we continue to represent Jesus on the cross when he has already risen from the dead.  He is risen indeed but he also remains with us in his suffering for our sins which have not ended.  Jesus is present to take away our sins but we must turn away from sin and receive his mercy. 

We are living “at the end of the ages” awaiting the second coming in which he will “bring salvation” not to all but “those who eagerly await him”.  The signs that we eagerly await Jesus is our love of God put into practice.  The practice of our worship is to build our relationship with God not to fulfill a social-cultural tradition of simply coming to church.  The practice of our charity is to give of ourselves, our poverty as sinners, not as a token of our abundance.   The practice of our sacrifice for the greater good for the salvation of our souls and the souls of others reveals our true heart and priorities.  God first, in all and through all we do and say to be ever present in our heart, mind and will.  This is love. 

When Elijah asks the widow to bring him “a bit of bread” she responds with the truth of her condition ready to eat her last meal with her son and die.  Elijah promises her that the Lord will fill her jar with flour and jug with oil.  She does as he asks of her showing her faith and trust in the Lord and the Lord answered.  “She was able to eat for a year and he and her son as well.”  Notice that it says all three ate for a year, meaning Elijah remained with her giving of himself as well.  He stayed not to burden her but to serve her in spirit and in truth.  This is what the Lord is asking of us to “stay” with those who are in need.  We do this remembering to call, pay a visit, stay in contact and to journey with others.  This is the love of charity, not just adding to the jar and continuing on our way. 

As the Lord remains with us, one way we remain with him is by the way we remain attentive to the needs of others.  The Lord provides by asking of us to be his hands and feet that brings faith, justice, and food to the hungry.  Jesus called his disciples not only for the purpose of continuing his teaching but to serve the needs of his people in body and soul. 

The Lord gives us the example of two widows in today’s reading who give of their poverty as a true sacrifice of faith.  We give in gratitude for what we have received.  We give in sacrifice as a testimony of our faith. We give in thanksgiving for the sacrifice of the Lord once for all of our sins that we may be forgiven and be welcome to the table of the Lord. 

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