An Attitude of Faithful Gratitude
(1 Kg 17:10-16; Psalm 146; Heb 9:24-28; Mk 12:38-44)
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Gustavo Gutierrez, noted liberation theologian from Latin America, gave a lecture at Newman Theological College in St. Albert, Alberta, some years ago. At one point, he told his listeners that if they wanted to come to Latin America to help out of anger at the injustice there, then not to come. There was already had lots of angry people in Latin America, and coming would not help. And if they wanted to come out of a sense of guilt because they had so much and those in Latin America had so little, then it would be better not to come. They would not help, because there were already enough guilty people there. But if they wanted to come because they were grateful for all that God had given them, then he invited them to come – they could always use more grateful people in Latin America.
Gustavo Gutierrez
The readings today encourage us to have an attitude of faithful gratitude, and to live our lives out of that attitude of gratitude.
A background to these readings is the anointing of Jesus at Bethany by an unnamed woman. Hers was an extravagant gesture criticized by some of the disciples. Jesus, however, defended her actions. She was simply expressing her gratitude for the love as forgiveness Jesus had extended to her, leading her to show much love in return. Jesus even adds she was preparing him for his passion. Having experienced that overflowing of love, he was now readier to face what was coming to him during his trial and crucifixion.
Woman anointing Jesus’ feet
The widow in the first reading Elijah visits has nothing. She is at death’s door, yet at his request responds by keeping to the full the time-honored practice of hospitality – treating guests as if they were the Lord himself. This is what she does. Imagine her faith, her trust in God, her gratitude to God for God’s love and the gift of faith, that she is able to share her meagre portion with a guest. She then experiences the miracle of the multiplication of loaves (meal) and fish (oil). Hers is an attitude of faithful gratitude.
Elijah and widow of Zarephath
In the gospel, Jesus is watching the people put money into the treasury, then he notices, pays particular attention to, a poor widow who put in a few meagre coins. Jesus sees her attitude of gratitude; what it was that allowed her to part with what she needed to live on; her attitude of faith in God’s providence, to trust somehow God would take care of her. Her faith was expressed in giving alms from what she had to live one, just like the widow in the Old Testament reading with Elijah.
That is in such contrast to the Pharisees and scribes Jesus decries at the beginning of the gospel reading. In stark contrast to these two widows and the woman who anointed Jesus, they are proud, arrogant, self-centered, uncaring of the poor, judgmental, and critical of anyone less fortunate than them. They are also certainly opposed to Jesus who was a threat to their carefully constructed religious system that fed their own narcissism and actually oppressed the poor, the very poor whom Jesus exalts in these two passages.
Widow’s mite
The question for us posed by these readings is, how strong is our faith, and how deep is our gratitude? What is our basic attitude towards life? Are we self-seeking and self-serving, and stingy in our affairs with others, or do we have the strong faith and trust in God’s presence in our lives and promises to us in Christ and the Spirit to be generous to God and to others?
If our faith is strong and our attitude of gratitude deep, we will be able to be like the two widows and extend the great gift of hospitality to all others, and our love and worship to a God we see as loving us and caring for us in all the circumstances of our lives.
As Mother Theresa of Calcutta put it, “what we would like to do to and for Jesus, whom we cannot see, let us do it to the person next to us, whom we can see, and we will be doing it for Jesus.”
The Eucharist is a humble meal much like the flour and oil of the widow which Elijah’s prayer multiplied into sustenance for them for a whole year. Only in our case, it is the Holy Spirit who transforms these humble gifts of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ, who will sustain and enliven us for an eternity as the Bread of Life,
So, let us check our attitude. Let us pray for an attitude of humble, faithful gratitude expressing itself in extravagant gestures of love and hospitality to others, reflecting the love and hospitality our God shows to us all.
Certainly, as we celebrate Remembrance Day, we honor the most extravagant gesture of all, the selfless sacrifice of one’s own life of so many young men and women who died defending our freedom. They deserve all our gratitude and all the honor we can give them. At the same time, let us pray for an end to the senseless tragedy of all wars.
Our gratitude is to show our love and hospitality towards others and our neighbours like family and friends. We have to respect and honor people’s dignity and identity for who they are . We are to have forgiveness by being able forgive one another as we forgive ourselves. We should be forgiving people who have hurt us over and over again. But, we are to respect them and love them dearly. If we can change our attitude to show gratitude is to serve God by helping the needy, the poor, shelter the homeless, feed the hunger and care for the sick. We can lend a hand to save people from distress, pain and suffering, bitterness, anger and resentments cause from personal problems and past events. We should show our appreciation for people by offering them what we have. All of these love, peace and joy comes from our hearts and having an open mind to receive God and Jesus Christ fulfilling in our lives. Lastly, we are to remember people who had faught in those world wars and tragedies to save us. Lest we Forget. Amen . Praise to You Lord Jesus Christ.
Well thanks for the lovely speech and messages in showing our gratitude towards people and the Lord. This is what God wants us to do by following his teachings. Thanks for sharing those pictures. Bishop Sylvain Lavoie Gracias!