Reflection for the Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time – Nov. 7, 2021

By Rod and Connie Determan, Notre Dame Associates

In the first reading from the Book of Kings, Elijah asked the woman gathering sticks to give all that she had, her last meal.  Both Elijah and the woman knew she would not find more flour and there was nowhere that she could go for help.  Elijah asked her to give everything that she had and trust God.  Through her blind faith she was saved.

In the second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews, it was explained that salvation is not something that you pick at day by day.  Salvation is something that was given to us once and for all through the sacrifice of Jesus.  Jesus will return to bring salvation to those who eagerly continue to await it.

In the Gospel according to Mark, Jesus watched the Jews as they went through their lives filled with rituals.  As he watched the Scribes, the rich and the poor woman, he noted that through the rituals in their lives the Scribes and the rich were given their rewards through the respect and notoriety that they demanded.  Theirs was instant gratification.  The poor woman was noticed by no one.  Her gift was because of her blind faith in God.  Her gift not only did not gain instant gratification, but like the woman Elijah meet, she could be giving the last of what she had that could sustain her life.

May we pray for increased blind faith in God!