Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

 32^nd Sunday of the Year, B – November 11, 2018.

Readings: 1 Kings 17:10-16; Ps 145:7-10;  

Hebrews 9:24-28; Gospel – Mark 12:38-44.

Theme: Unconditional Giving

Introduction

Friends in Christ, as we approach the end of the year, our liturgical theme “Unconditional Giving” calls us to reflect on charity and sacrificial giving. Before we delve into the lessons of the day, it is important to perouse the background of the readings and highlight the types of givers and kinds of giving as well as examples of unconditional giving and pastoral application. Before we arrive at the conclusion, we would also consider some homiletic points to remember.

Background & Summary of the Readings

In the first reading (1 Kings 17:10-16), we are presented with the story of the widow who ministered to the needs of the Prophet Elijah despite her scare resources. In obedience to God’s word, the “Jar of meal shall not be spent, jug of oil shall not be emptied, before the day when the Lord sends rain on the face of the earth.” As a consequence, the little food she shared with the prophet was not spent nor the jug of oil emptied just as the Lord had foretold through Elijah.

The second reading (Hebrews 9:24-28) tells us how Christ shared his humanity with us by offering himself with us to take away our sins. It makes the point that Christ gave himself to humanity by unconditional giving.

In the gospel (Mark 12:38-44), we are presented with the story of the widow who gave two copper coins – noting how others gave out of their plenty, Jesus praised the widow for giving more than others since they gave all she had to live on. This leads us to the types of giving there are:

Types of Givers

1. Thanks Givers: Thanks Givers are those who, with a cheerful heart offering a wholehearted service to God for his kindness and blessings in their lives. Often times, these Christians invite neighbours and colleagues to Church where they book Mass of thanksgiving to God for promotion, protection and provision. Amidst family and friends, they dance to the altar of God bringing their gifts before him. Little wonder Paul says: “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). 

3. Ought Givers: Ought Givers are Christians who give because they ought to give not because it is a dutiful service unto God. A classical example of this kind of people are Ananias and Sapphira who decided to hoard some part of the money that accrued from the sale of their land and declared a little before the apostles. They gave because others were giving not because they were convinced to give. The long and short of the story is that they were struck dead (Cf. Acts 5:1-11). 

2. Grudge Givers: Grudge Givers are those who complain as soon as it is time for bazaar, collection, levy, tithe or launching in the parish. They are anti-giving. Most times, their money is for their enjoyment. They prefer to lavish their money on cars, building, wine, women, recharge card, DSTV to mention a few rather than “waste” it on any missionary enterprise. It is because of this kind of givers that St. Paul said: “Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion” (2 Corinthians 9:7). This brings us to the four types of giving there are:  

Kinds of Giving

1. Qualitative Giving: This is about setting aside the best of all that the Lord has given us to return thanks to him. It is because of this kind of giving that God accepted the sacrifice of Abel and rejected that of Cain (Gen 4:4 Cain). St. Paul insists that:  “Each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper” (1 Corinthians 16:2). Though the widow that gave two copper coins was poor, she gave more and was praised by Jesus (Mark 12:41-44).    

                

2. Quantitative Giving: In this kind of giving, we are supposed to access our giving based on the blessings the Lord has bestowed upon us. Givers never lack. St. Paul says “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6). Our second reading says, “But if we deny him, he will deny us” (2 Tm 2:12).

3. Spiritual Giving: Spiritual giving constitutes using our gifts and talents to the glory of God. Since God has given us a variety of gifts, talents and all the duties and services of life to be used for his glory (1 Pet 4:10), spiritual giving creates a platform for us to support the work of God in kind and whichever way we can. 

4. Material Giving: Material giving connotes supporting the mission of the Church in cash. Not all of us can go to the mission as priests, religious or laity yet our finances can aid the missionary enterprise. This is where the saying: “Some give to the mission by going, some go the mission by giving” makes sense. This kind of giving was demonstrated by Shunammite family as earlier indicated. Jesus says, “Anyone who welcomes a prophet will have a prophet’s reward; and anyone who welcomes a holy man will have a holy man’s reward” (Matthew 10:41). This is why we must support the Church (priests and religious) with our time, treasure and talents. 

Examples of Unconditional Giving

1. Shunammite Woman: The bible presents us with the uncanny generosity of a Shunammite family who provided the Prophet Elijah with food and shelter (2 Kings 4:8-11,13-16). As it were, in appreciation for their magnanimous deed, the Prophet promised them a child. It is obvious that food, shelter and a descent life were not out of reach for this family. What is crucial was their open-handedness. Their generosity to the Prophet fast tracked a miracle for this family. It was the miracle of a lifetime because the husband was well off in years. In this story, we learn how material generosity could bring about spiritual blessings. 

2. Widow with Two Copper Coins: In a similar scenario, we are told that Jesus watched the Scribes putting their money in the 13 collection chests that were available in the synagogue. As expected, the rich did so in an arrogant manner. He noticed this widow who dropped two copper coins and praised her for her generosity (Mark 12:41-44). By using this poor widow as a prototype for generosity, Jesus presents us with a paradoxical hero. The lesson is, in the sight of God, a little with a pure heart is better that much gotten from loot. Apparently, until it pains, giving is only a show. This leads us to the various kinds of giving there are:    

Pastoral Application & Practical Lessons

1. Sacrificial Giving: The first reading challenges us to share the little food and resources we have with others bearing in mind that our food would not be spent nor the jug of oil emptied.

2. Sharing our Humanity: Like the message of the second reading, we are urged to share our humanity with others through offering them our milk of kindness, sympathy and empathy.

3. Unconditional Giving: The gospel invites us to emulate the widow who gave her all by engaging in unconditional giving.

4. Being Thanks Givers: Our liturgy calls us to give with a cheerful heart by offering wholehearted service to God for his kindness and blessings in our lives.

5. Being Ought Givers: We are reminded that being Ought Givers is a dutiful service unto the Lord which attracts blessings.

6. Avoiding Being Grudge Givers: Our readings remind us to beware of being Grudge Givers during bazaar, collection, levy, tithe or launching in our parishes.      

7. Being Qualitative Givers: We are urged to set aside the best of all that the Lord has given us to return thanks to him.

8. Being Quantitative Givers: As a Church, we are urged to access our giving based on the blessings the Lord has bestowed upon us being giving our best to him without reservation.  

9. Being Spiritual Givers: Our liturgy invites us to embrace spiritual giving by using our gifts and talents to the glory of God.

10. Material Givers: As individuals and a Church, we need to embrace material giving which connotes supporting the mission of the Church in cash by copying the Shunammite Woman.

Homiletic Points to Remember

1. The widow who ministered to the needs of the Prophet Elijah despite her scare resources.

2. Christ shared his humanity with us by offering himself with us to take away our sins.

3. Jesus praised the widow for giving more than others since she gave all she had to live on.

4. We are called to emulate the Shunammite family by being qualitative givers.

5. We are urged to as a matter of urgency not starve the Church in quantitative, qualitative, spiritual and material. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, we are called to emulate the Shunammite family by being qualitative givers. If we shun being Ought or Grudge givers and embrace being THANKS GIVERS, God is able to bless us because he loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7). As present Disciples of Christ, on this Sunday and beyond, we are urged to as a matter of urgency not starve the Church in quantitative, qualitative, spiritual and material giving. Happy Sunday!