Year 32 No. 19 ST PAULS MEDIA FE AMBUHAY SUNDAY © TV MARIA © 3:30AM © 7:00P™ FoLtow useN Zacesook © EBYabe 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) — Green iced tenes) November 11,2018 Appreciating Widows Ihe Hebrew almana (widow) refers to a married woman whose husband has died, and who has remained unmarried, The death of a husband in a patriarchal society like Israel generally meant social and economic tragedy. With no one to stand for her legal rights, as in the case of a widow left with small children, the widow was in an extremely vulnerable economic situation, Hence, she was frequently placed alongside ‘orphans and landless immigrants, representatives of the poorest of the poor (Jb 24:4; ls 10:2). Al mana resembles another Hebrew word, alam (‘be mute”), suggesting her helplessness; she has no voice in society. The widow is under the special care of God, who provides her with food and clothing. God is declared as “the father of the fatherless and the defender of widows” (Ps 68:6). The Law of Moses and the words of the Prophets, reflecting God’s care, called for the care and protection of the widows, She was permitted to glean the fields and the vineyards during the harvest. Tithes were shared with her. Provision was to be made for her at the main religious feasts. Her garments could not be taken as collateral fora loan. The measure by which a ruler in Israel was to be judged as good was whether the powerless ones, like widows, were cared for (cf. Jer 22:16). Jesus, who came to reveal the mefcy of the Father, exemplifies a special care and compassion for widows. Moved with pity for a widow who had lost her only son, he raises the dead to life and gives him back to his mother (Lk 7:12- 15). He condemns the scribes—the experts of the Law—not just for seeking places of honor but also for “devouring the houses of widows” (Mk 12:39-40). As “rulers” in Israel, they should defend widows. But probably, like some unscrupulous lawyers today, they used their knowledge of the Law to gain profit father than defend the rights of widows, and worse, cheating them of their remaining properties. Widows are not necessarily associated with helplessness. The Book of Ruth illustrates beautifully how the emptiness of widowhood may be turned to joy and life. The young widow Ruth from Moab joins her mother-in-law Naomi in Bethlehem and finds a dependable and loving husband in Boaz. They become the-ancestors of King David. In today’s Gospel, Jesus presents a widow as a protagonist. ‘Measuring the worth of her offering in terms of the sacrifice involved, Jesus points out that she has given the most. She gives without counting the cost, placing her trust in the goodness of God, who raises the lowly and gives every good thing to the hungry (cf. Lk 1:52-53). In the New Testament, the Christian community took care of widows, appointing seven deacons to attend to their needs (Acts 6:1-2), But there was a group. of widows called “real widows” who enjoyed reputation for good works: they had raised their children, practiced hospitality, involved themselves in every good work, and “washed the feet of the holy ones” (1 Tim 5:9- 10). They followed the loving gesture of Jesus who washed his disciples’ feet at the Last Supper, and obeyed his command, “You ought to wash one another's feet” Qn 13:14). In his Letter to the Elderly (1 October 1999), Pope St. John Paul Il turns in a special way to widows and widowers and declares: “The Church still needs you. She appreciates the services which you may wish to provide in many areas of the apostolate; she counts ‘on the support of your longer periods of prayers; she counts on your advice born of experience, and she is enriched by your daily witness to the Gospel” (n. 13) — Fr. Gil A. Alinsangan, SSP Pastoral Catechesis for the Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons Do Not Be Robbed. ees) — Fr. James H. Kroeger, MM, When Pope Francis spoke to religious men and women—and to young people—with his 2015 World Mission Day Message, he declared: “Do not allow others to rob you of the ideal of a true mission, of following Jesus through the total gift of yourself.” Francis told them: “There is an urgent need to reaffirm that the central ideal of mission is Jesus Christ, and that this ideal demands the total gift of oneself to the proclamation of the Gospel.” He continued: “In the depths of your conscience, ask yourself why you chose the religious missionary life and take stock of your readiness to accept it for what itis: a gift of love at the service of the proclamation of the Gospel.” Finally, Pope Francis addressed all consecrated persons: “Remember that, even before being necessary for those who have not yet heard it, the proclamation of the Gospel is a necessity for those who love the Master.” Avoid anything that may “rob” your missionary ideals and passion!THE INTRODUCTORY is Entrance Antiphon [CE Ps 88 (87):3] (Recited when there is no opening song) Let my prayer come into your presence. Incline your ear to my cry for help, O Lord. Greeting (The sign of the cross is made here) P — The Lord be with you. All — And with your spirit. Introduction (The priest may address the assembly using these or similar words) P — Jesus praises the humble contribution of the widow because it represents all she has. She gives not just her money but her whole heart to the Lord, and this is most pleasing to him. In the First Reading, another widow shares from her dwindling resources to feed the prophet Elijah. Her generosity is amply rewarded: her meager supply of flour and oil does not run out. ‘Are we also generous with what we can offer to the Lord and to our brothers and sisters in need? Penitential Act P — Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries. (Pause) P—Have mercy on us, O Lord. All — For we have sinned against you. P — Show us, 0 Lord, your mercy. All — And grant us your salvation. P — May almighty God have mercy onus, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. All — Amen. P —Lord, have mercy. All — Lord, have mercy. P — Christ, have mercy. All — Christ, have mercy. P —Lord, have mercy. All — Lord, have mercy. Gloria All — Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us, For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father, Amen. Collect P —Let us pray. (Pause) Almighty and merciful God, graciously keep from us all adversity, so that, unhindered in mind and body alike, we may pursue in freedom of heart the things that are yours. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. All — Amen. THE LITURGY OF THE WORD First Reading [1 Kgs 17:10-16] (Sif) Because the widow of Zarephath shared food with the prophet Elijah, she and her son survived the time of famine. This action of the pagan widow mirrors the generosity ofthe widow in today's Gospel. A reading from the first Book of Kings 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 Loxp, your God, lives, T 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 Lorn, 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 Lorp sends rain upon the earth.” She left and did as Elijah had said. She was able to cat for ayear, and he and her son as well; the jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, as the Lorp had foretold through Elijah. —The word of the Lord. All — Thanks be to God. Responsorial Psalm (Ps 146) R—Praise the Lord, my soul! E.C. Marfori AT Dm G Praise, the Lord, G my soul. 1. The Lorp keeps faith forever,/ secures justice for the oppressed,/ gives food to the hungry./ The Lorp sets captives free. (R) 2 The Lorn gives sight to the blind;/ the Lorn raises up those who were bowed down./ The Lorn loves the just;/ the Lorn protects strangers. (R) 3. The fatherless and the widow he sustains,/ but the way of the wicked he thwarts./ The Lorpshall reign forever;/ your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia. (R) Second Reading (Heb 9:2428) By his death and resurrection, Jesus Christ, our high priest, did not enter the sanctuary of the temple of Jerusalem, but the heavenly sanctuary itself. He thus makes it possible for us to come before God's presence. A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews 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. —The word of the Lord. All — Thanks be to God. Alleluia [Mt 5:3] (Stand) All — Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel (Mk 12:38-44) P —A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark All — Glory to you, O Lord. 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, asa pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive avery 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.” —The Gospel of the Lord. All — Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. Homily (Sit) Profession of Faith (Stand) All — I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, (At the words that follow, up to and including became man, all Bot.) and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. Ibelieve in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen. Prayer of the Faithful P — God measures a gift not by its size or cost but according to the generous spirit it was given. Let us pray to God, our Father, that we may have the same generosity as the widow in the Gospel: R — Lord, listen to our prayer. © — That the Holy Father, bishops, priests, and deacons may rekindle the divine gift they received at their ordination and serve God and his people with a generous heart, we pray: (R) C — That politicians and civil leaders may be selfless as they initiate programs for the integral development of society, we pray: (R) C — That those who are weakened by their sickness, victims of natural calamities, violence, and injustice may offer their pain and suffering to God and be able to find strength in him, we pray: (R) C—That generous institutions and individuals may continue sharing their blessings and receive their reward from God who is never outdone in generosity, we pray: (R) C — That consecrated men and women may ever be more active in their charity toward the poor, we pray: (R) P —O most generous Father, hear the prayers of your children who call upon your name. May this prayer help us to give our gifts from our hearts and to share itto those in need. We ask this through Christ our Lord. All — Amen.