Readings:
Apocalypse 14:1-5
Luke 21:1-4
Reflection:
While I could write a riveting reflection, I thought I would share this reflection written by our wonderful, recently passed, dear brother, Fr Kevin Tuitu’u. He gave this reflection at St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill, where he was chaplain. It was the day of the grand college fete.
I have three sisters. The eldest, Cheryle and then the other two, Jennene and Lonnie.
My sister Jennene is really into scented candles, essential oils and organic food.
A few months ago, my sister Jennene bought some scented candles for my youngest sister Lonnie. They were very expensive and she had had them imported from overseas. My sister Lonnie hates scented candles. They make her sneeze, her eyes swell up, and sometimes even vomit! So she took them outside and put them in the laundry until she decided what to do with them.
Then Lonnie found eBay! So she put the scented candles on eBay. Many people bid for them. Eventually, the highest bidder bid $200 for them. When the details came through from the highest bidder, my sister Lonnie realised that that bidder was my sister Jennene, who had given her the candles. Not only had she won the bid, but she paid $100 more than she had when she imported them. So, these candles have cost my sister Jennene $300.
My sisters are not talking at present!
That’s a story about two women I know. The Word of God today tells us another woman. A very, very generous women. (Most women are very generous – so think of me when you see me walk around the Fete today – especially if you’re a lady working in the food stalls!)
The woman in the Gospel – a widow, very poor. She quietly goes up to the treasury box outside the Temple and, without fuss, puts in a few coins. All the money she had in the world. Her gift was for God alone – she wanted no praise – she just wanted to give God her gift – what I’d call UNREASONABLE GENEROSITY. She thought that no one noticed – but Jesus did – and over two thousand years later we remember her, we still tell her story, and for us it has become one of our sacred stories. Unreasonable generosity!
We are coming into the season of Advent and Christmas. A season when we remember the UNREASONABLE GENEROSITY of our God in giving us his only Son. God’s generosity ended in the death of his Son.
Let us be like the widow outside the Temple – and be generous to God.
Let us be like our God (and a young widow named Mary) – let us give with UNREASONABLE GENEROSITY!
God bless Kevin – we miss him dearly.
Tom Mcdonough CP is the parish priest and community leader at St. Paul of the Cross, Glen Osmond.