Reflection for Saturday, Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Today's Word

By


Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest
Don Bosco Shrine
Lingarajapuram, Bangalore

Tobit: 12:18 " Raphael said to Tobit and Tobias, Bless Him each and every day; sing His praises.


Today's Reflection

The story of Tobit and Tobias in the 1st reading is like how a story in a movie unfolds. We have been following the story of Tobit since the beginning of the week and today we have come to the end of the story.

And as we come to the end of the story, we see that everything that has happened happened for a reason.

Tobit and Tobias would surely be amazed at what was revealed to them because those were events that they remembered that had happened to them but didn't and couldn't make the connection then.

Small acts of generosity that can go unnoticed by others are noticed and appreciated by the Lord.

In the gospel reading, Jesus noticed the small act of a widow who put in two small coins into the Temple treasury.

He had seen rich people putting much more into the treasury but it was this widow’s seemingly insignificant contribution that made an impact on Jesus.

He immediately drew his disciples’ attention to her.

What would have gone unnoticed by others did not go unnoticed by Jesus.

The gospel reading is reminding us that the Lord sees differently to the rest of us.

He saw that the widow’s small gesture revealed a big heart, because the little she gave was all she had to live on.

In giving a little, she was giving everything. Jesus himself would soon give everything on the cross.

Perhaps he saw in her an image of himself.

Her generosity to God made her vulnerable; she gave everything to serve the worship of God in the Temple.

Jesus’ generous service of God made him completely vulnerable, leaving him at the mercy of powerful men who unjustly took his life in the cruellest fashion. His disciples had something to learn from this widow, which is why Jesus drew their attention to her.

The evangelist included this story in his gospel because he recognised that we all have something to learn from her.

She teaches us that what matters is not how much we give but the generosity of spirit that lies behind it.

In giving a little, we can sometimes be giving our all, if a little is all we have to give.

A small gesture at a certain moment in our lives when we are frail can have a greater value in the Lord’s eyes than a greater gesture when we are much more able.

So whatever happens, happens before the eyes of God. And God has a plan and things happen according to His plan.


Resolution

Let's resolve to see God's plan in the small and little things, so that we will give thanks and praise to God in all things.

GOD BLESS YOU

Good morning. Have a nice safe day and a fruitful weekend🙏