Weekly Readings Reflections: 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time:

At CSULB there are those who want CALPERS to divest from any and all fossil fuel corporations as a means toward ecological justice. Regardless of your views on climate change, this presents a complex scenario.
How deep should we go when looking at the sources for what we purchase/consume/give to others?
If your favorite clothing line is manufactured with underage slave labor in Indonesia, does that make you a bad person?
Or should we just charge them a higher tariff?

Fr. Al Scott has dedicated his life to lifting up the poor. He stands as a challenge to all of us to find where/how God is calling each of us to lift up the poor.
What makes a person "poor". Is it just a matter of money, or mental/physical health, community, culture even?
How can we tell that we are doing enough?
How can we detect selfishness on our part?

When did life get so complicated? It seems as though there are no easy answers these days. It's hard to tell who the "black hats" and the "white hats" are anymore. Finding common ground from which to pursue peaceful solutions to problems that we have in common seems all but impossible.
When you pray for our local, state, and national leaders, how do you pray for them?
What do you think God wants to see for and from these servants of the people?
Do you think any of God's desires are realistic?
What action(s) do you think your prayer might lead you to?

A steward manages his master's wealth. I would presume that the master would specify some parameters, such as invest in sustainable enterprises, support the marginalized and downtrodden, and do all of that while still growing the master's net worth. If we are stewards of all that God has given us, what are our parameters?
Time is not like money. We cannot make more time. But we do invest our time. How do you insure that you invest the time that God has given you wisely?
Time and energy invested in our talents increase our abilities. Think of some of your talents that you have invested in. How have your talents made the world a better place?
How do you decide where/when/how to invest the treasure that God has given you stewardship of? How do you tell whether a cause is good or not?

The Widow's Mite

I used to like to sit in the Temple courtyard

Watching the faithful deposit their offerings into the treasury.

So many different motivations for their generosity.

Some felt it a singular part of their worship, acknowledging that all is God's.

Some did it just for the show. Making sure everyone saw their generosity.

Others, because they felt a kinship with the downtrodden.

I never trusted myself to give that way.

I made my contributions directly to a priest friend of the family.

All but anonymous, and much more personal.

But I'll never forget one day when a poor widow came.

Barely able to walk or stand. Clothes shabby and torn. Hair awry.

Shuffling slowly towards the treasury in stark contrast to the rest of us.

One hand clutching her walking stick, the other lightly holding two small coins.

She waited humbly for the prima donna givers to have their day.

Then she let loose of her offering into the treasury with barely a sound.

I ran to catch up with her, and asked breathlessly

"That's all all that you have, isn't it?

"Yes" was all that she would say.

"But what of tomorrow, what will you do then?"

"God will provide. He always has. He will stop when I no longer need anything.

I have been His servant lo these many years. He won't abandon me now."

"It seems as though God could be more generous to you don't you think?" I said.

"God has been generous to me. He has given me freedom to follow Him without question."

"Let me pray for you" she said. "What is it that you desire from our Lord?"

"Humility" I said. Scarce believing that I said that.

"Then you shall learn humility. Probably in places you never dreamed of.

Our God is generous with that gift to those with the courage to receive it."

Shalom!

Weekly Readings Reflections