The readings for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B, highlight the beauty of sacrificial giving and trust in God’s providence. In the first reading from 1 Kings, we encounter a poor widow who, despite her scarcity, shares her last meal with the prophet Elijah. Her faith and generosity, even in extreme poverty, reveal her deep trust in God, who then provides abundantly for her needs.

In the Gospel of Mark, we meet another widow who gives two small coins—her whole livelihood—to the Temple treasury. Jesus observes her sacrifice and praises her, saying she has given more than all others because she gave from her poverty, not her surplus. Her gift, though small in worldly value, is immeasurable in God’s eyes because it represents total trust and self-giving.

These widows teach us that true generosity is not about the amount we give but the spirit in which we give. God calls us to give from our hearts, with faith and love, even when it costs us. Like the widows, we are invited to trust that God, who knows our needs, will provide.

As we reflect on these examples of selfless giving, let us examine our own lives. Are we willing to give not only from our surplus but from our substance, trusting God to care for us? May their faith inspire us to be generous, joyful givers, fully relying on God’s goodness.

Your Priest,

Father Charles