Sunday Reflection with Canon Robin Gibbons: 10 November 2024

Nov 9th, 2024

Widow's mite, 6th century mosaic © Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna

Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 155

Leo the Great whose feast it also is on this Sunday, preached these words which rank as some of the most succinct and evocative in defining our Christian life and Mission: 'Christian, remember your dignity, and now that you share in God's own nature, do not return by sin to your former base condition. Bear in mind who is your head and of whose body you are a member. Do not forget that you have been rescued from the power of darkness and brought into the light of God's kingdom'. In our scriptures this Sunday Leo's words resonate with two particular stories and through them challenge us to rediscover our vocation as members of Christ's body and bearers of light in the darkness.

The two widows

Though they come down to us from the 5th century, Leo's words of wisdom and insight stand the test of time. In a very real way, they offer us something concrete to hold on to, at a time when so much seems dangerous and uncertain in the life of our small plant we call Mother Earth. We carry Leo's words with us as we read two of the stories in our scriptures today.

The first is the story from our first reading, that of the poor widow of Zarephath, a woman at the end of all things, close to death-alongside her son, because of their abject poverty and need. Yet even at this end point, she has an innate dignity that many of the religious and powerful people do not possess, for unlike them she responds to a divine call, and in doing so, gave all she had, in order to feed God's prophet, Elijah. In her actions we discern both a vocation and a mission of loving service, a far deeper understanding, of God's will and presence in her life than many of us are able to accept. Though she was at the tail end of both society and life, she was still able and willing to be part of God's loving gift. Would we be like her if this was our story? I would not like to guess! The remembrance of her act in this reading continues to challenge us and bring light into the darkness of our selfishness, but heals us a little for through her God conveys a blessing on all who feel neglected-yet still carry on that dignified vocation of caring for others. It is a reminder that we are all called to care and love creation and peoples in every place and in every age.

We then find that second poignant image, the widow in the gospel. This is a story that would no doubt have passed us by, had not Jesus seen her action and used it as an example of the dignity of all called to follow and belong to him. It is Jesus who both recognises and accepts the widow's true worth. His words bring out for us the inner love and light of God's kingdom discovered through her actions, then transformed by Jesus as her gift for all of us to share. This is how Mark describes Jesus' insight: '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."(Mk 12: 42,43) If that doesn't resonate with us, then we need to examine our own consciences. If we take time to think deeply about these two scriptural images, the dignity of these two widows should impel us to action, help make us true advocates for justice, especially for those who have nothing much in terms of possessions, or worse still have very little opportunity and hope.

Look beyond ourselves

I suppose after the elections in the USA this past week many will wonder just what is going on, but remember, politics is certainly not the be all and end all of life. Even if politicians think they are at the top of society. they may not be in touch with us, nor have all our interests at heart. We as Christians need to look at wider issues, such as the urgent need for action on visible climate change taking place, which results in catastrophic events such as the terrible flooding in Spain and elsewhere. Or crucially the threat to peace found in present day hostilities between peoples such as those we are even now aware of, like the Ukrainian conflict, and the atrocious and costly conflict in Biblical Lands. We need to make radical change, and in order to achieve this we need to recover our Christian and human dignity.

Jesus in the gospel of today points out the faces of those hidden from our view, those hidden in the underbelly of human life. He asks us to look at the fallout the powerful cause by their arrogance in the lives of ordinary people and wider life on our planet. Issues we need to act on, such as the wilful destruction of our land by corporate organisations, bad urban planning, unregulated development in wildlife areas, anything where human greed dominates communities. We are not called to neglect of the little ones of life nor accept an increasing gap between rich and poor. Instead we are bidden by Christ to take a look at those we ignore in our own societies and do something to alleviate the distress of all the lonely, the deprived poor, those who are homeless, and the many dispossessed and marginalised persons around us.

The denunciation of the powerful

In those two stories the important ones are not the powerful, they are the very least of all, two elderly poverty stricken widows, and in one case a son who has no hope except to die with his mother. Yet it is they, not the religious figures, or the so called big influencers in society, who become the bringers of light.

And we have a warning, that we all need to heed. For those arrogant rich and powerful people, Jesus has a truly harsh denunciation:

'In the course of his teaching he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honour in synagogues, and places of honour at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation."' (Mk 12:38-40) But to those like the two Widows, a great blessing is given, their light will shine as a guide for us, as will the light of all those of us, who in humbleness of heart and openness of love reach out to the needy. Remember the words of Jesus given in a later account found in Mark 14, Jesus words about the woman who anointed his feet. It is these unknown ones, not the powerful, who have the real dignity if God, for they reveal the true love of God in heart, mind and soul . "Amen, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed to the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her." (Mk 14: 9) May that be so for all of us!

Lectio and Prayers

Extract from :

DECLARATION ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
DIGNITATIS HUMANAE
ON THE RIGHT OF THE PERSON AND OF COMMUNITIES TO SOCIAL AND CIVIL FREEDOM IN MATTERS RELIGIOUS
PROMULGATED BY HIS HOLINESS POPE PAUL VI ON DECEMBER 7, 1965

14b. The disciple is bound by a grave obligation toward Christ, his Master, ever more fully to understand the truth received from Him, faithfully to proclaim it, and vigorously to defend it, never-be it understood-having recourse to means that are incompatible with the spirit of the Gospel. At the same time, the charity of Christ urges them to love and have prudence and patience in their dealings with those who are in error or in ignorance with regard to the faith.(37) All is to be taken into account-the Christian duty to Christ, the life-giving word which must be proclaimed, the rights of the human person, and the measure of grace granted by God through Christ to those who are invited freely to accept and profess the faith.

Prayer based on St Leo's writing
by Fr Robin Gibbons

Most High and Holy God,

Three persons in One,

through the intercession of Saint Leo,

help us always to recognize our dignity as Christians,

and understand that we share in Your own nature.

Save us from returning to our former condition of sinfulness,

and help us remember that Christ is the true head of the body of which we are members.

May we never forget that we have been rescued from the power of darkness

and brought into the light of the Kingdom of God.

Through Christ our Lord and Saviour.

For the Healing of our world at this time.