Reading 1
1 Kgs 17:10-16
In those days, Elijah the prophet went to Zarephath.
As he arrived at the entrance of the city,
a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her,
"Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink."
She left to get it, and he called out after her,
"Please bring along a bit of bread."
She answered, "As the LORD, your God, lives,
I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar
and a little oil in my jug.
Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks,
to go in and prepare something for myself and my son;
when we have eaten it, we shall die."
Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid.
Go and do as you propose.
But first make me a little cake and bring it to me.
Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son.
For the LORD, the God of Israel, says,
'The jar of flour shall not go empty,
nor the jug of oil run dry,
until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'"
She left and did as Elijah had said.
She was able to eat for a year, and he and her son as well;
the jar of flour did not go empty,
nor the jug of oil run dry,
as the LORD had foretold through Elijah.
Reading II
Heb 9:24-28
Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands,
a copy of the true one, but heaven itself,
that he might now appear before God on our behalf.
Not that he might offer himself repeatedly,
as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary
with blood that is not his own;
if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly
from the foundation of the world.
But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages
to take away sin by his sacrifice.
Just as it is appointed that human beings die once,
and after this the judgment, so also Christ,
offered once to take away the sins of many,
will appear a second time, not to take away sin
but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.
Gospel
Mk 12:38-44 or 12:41-44
In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds,
"Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes
and accept greetings in the marketplaces,
seats of honor in synagogues,
and places of honor at banquets.
They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext
recite lengthy prayers.
They will receive a very severe condemnation."
He sat down opposite the treasury
and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury.
Many rich people put in large sums.
A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.
Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them,
"Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more
than all the other contributors to the treasury.
For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had,
her whole livelihood."
or
Jesus sat down opposite the treasury
and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury.
Many rich people put in large sums.
A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.
Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them,
"Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more
than all the other contributors to the treasury.
For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had,
her whole livelihood."
Meditation: 1 Kings 17:10-16
A woman is minding her own business, gathering sticks so that she can build a fire and cook some food.
Out of nowhere, a man appears and asks: “Please bring me a small cupful of water” and “a bit of bread.” Instead of saying, “I am too busy” or “Go get your own bread” or “We’re too poor to feed you,” the woman does what he asks. The story is made all the more poignant when we consider that this woman was not only very poor but a widow as well.
Despite her poverty, this woman placed the traveler’s needs above her own. Her instincts of hospitality presvailed over the reality of her poverty. What this widow did not understand was that her generosity was going to be rewarded a hundredfold. For this traveler was Elijah, a powerful prophet of God.
Jesus once promised: “Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward” (Matthew 10:41). He placed a high value on hospitality, especially when it is shown to people who have dedicated themselves to serving the Lord. So what was this widow’s reward? Her jar never ran out of flour, and her jug never ran out of oil. Though drought and famine had gripped the land, this woman and her son were miraculously provided for.
There was another reward. When the widow’s son became ill and died, Elijah came and raised him from the dead.
Today we eat the body of the Lord and drink his blood. We welcome Jesus into our house just as this widow welcomed Elijah. So be sure to show him great hospitality. Don’t neglect him or leave him standing at the door. Know that if you are welcoming and generous to him, you will receive a huge reward: not just a “prophet’s reward” but a “Messiah’s reward.” Not just a “righteous man’s reward” but a “heavenly Savior’s reward.” Just as Jesus said to Zacchaeus, he will say to you: “Today salvation has come to this house” (Luke 19:9).
“Jesus, I welcome you today. Come into my heart and make it your home.”
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