Both the Elijah and the Elisha cycles contain miracles involving the
multiplication of food, and as such exhibit the literary genre to
which the stories of miraculous feedings in the Gospels are
conformed. This is their main importance for the New Testament.
The story of the widow’s cruse [an earthenware pot or jar],
like the following story of the raising of her son, emphasizes the
power of God’s word in the prophet’s mouth. In this
story the power of that word is seen in the fulfillment in verse
1 Kings 17:16
of the promise given in
17:14.
Neither of these points, however, has determined the selection of
the episode of the widow’s cruse for today’s reading.
Rather, she is seen as a widow woman of the same character as the
widow with the two coins in the Gospel story. Both widows gave away
all that they possessed.
Responsorial Psalm: 146:7, 8-9, 9-10
This is the first psalm in the final group of Hallel psalms. God is praised for his loving-kindness toward the needy, including widows. Hence its selection here.
This reading continues the exposition of the high priestly work of Christ in terms of a series of contrasts with the Levitical priesthood. Here are the points made this time, some of them repeated from last Sunday’s passage, some of them new:
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Levitical Priest
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Christ
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scene of his work: a material sanctuary |
the heavenly sanctuary, God’s real presence |
| repeated offering (yearly) | once for all |
| offered blood of other creatures | offered his own blood |
The last sentence of our reading seeks to elucidate the once-for-all
character of human death. The reference to the parousia comes rather
surprisingly here, but it is probable that all through this passage
the author has in mind the ceremony on the Day of Atonement.
After performing his priestly work in the Holy Place, the high
priest came out of the temple and showed himself to the people,
indicating thereby that the work of atonement had been
accomplished.
The parousia likewise will mark the completion of
Christ’s high priestly work.
Note that the passages from Hebrews used last Sunday and today
feature the two phrases that most clearly indicate the nature of
Christ’s high priestly work in heaven: “he always lives
to make intercession for them” (Heb 7:25) and “now to appear in the presence of God on our
behalf” (Heb 9:24).
Gospel: Mark 12:38-44 or 12:41-44
The longer form of this Gospel reading combines two quite distinct
traditions: Jesus’ denunciation of the scribes and the episode
of the widow with two coins.
The denunciation of the scribes forms the conclusion to the series
of Jerusalem conflict stories, whose function is to show the
widening gulf between Jesus and the Jerusalem authorities, and so to
prepare the way for the Sanhedrin’s decision to get rid of
Jesus.
The episode of the widow is joined to the denunciation by the
Stichwort principle (the word “widow” occurs in
each unit). Also, Mark has located the conflicts in the temple, and
the story of the widow is located there by its content.
Whether by design or not, however, the two stories, taken together
in this way, provide a foil for one another, for the behavior of the
scribes is contrasted sharply with that of the widow. Perhaps the
story of the widow was used in catechesis to illustrate the duty of
almsgiving.
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Preaching the Lectionary: The Word of God for the Church Today Reginald H. Fuller and Daniel Westberg. Liturgical Press. 1984. (Revised Edition). |
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For more information about the 3rd edition (2006) of
Preaching the Lectionary click picture above.
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from Religious Clip Art for the Liturgical Year (A, B, and C).
This art may be reproduced only by parishes who purchase the collection in book or CD-ROM form. For more information go http://www.ltp.org