Random Reflections

Mass Readings for 21.11.11

Daniel 1:1-6, 8-20

Luke 21: 1-4

Today's gospel reading is about whether we put more trust in God's providence or in our own abilities or in our bank balance. The faith that we have in God should far exceed the faith we naturally tend to have in worldly things. The poor widow contributed whatever was left of her earnings at the end of the day, into the Temple treasury. This speaks volumes about her immense trust in the providence of God for her future. Her insurer for her was, (while she survives and after her demise),  the Almighty God and not the L.I.C. of India. She evidently is acting out of her experience because in the past God has been taking great care of all her needs, relieving her of all anxiety and tension about the future. This reminds us about the  'Manna ' incident in Exodus. The children of Israel were commanded by God only to collect manna ( food in the desert ) only for that day's requirements. They were not to hoard even for the next day. Jesus now explains the same principle of trust in God, through the actions of the ' poor widow '.Even in our Lord's Prayer Jesus taught us to pray " Give us each day our daily bread ". This does not mean that we should not save for a 'rainy day' or for the children's future.However such financial planning should be reasonable and prudent and in line with our standard of living with which God has blessed us. But there should be no tendency to hoard in excess or be greedy.Anything that we possess in excess is sinful as that could have been given to the needy. This brings to mind the story of the rich man and the beggar Lazar in Luke's gospel. The lesson taught by today's gospel reading about the ' poor widow's mite ' is that our hearts should be always turned towards God who will meet our every need even though we may be materially well off. The same lesson can be learnt from Daniel and his three companions in the First reading who being ever faithful to God, entirely depended on His providence to ensure their excellent physical and mental health even though they chose to live only on a vegetable and water diet for the entire period of their exile in King Nebuchadnezzar's court.

Love and trust God in everything and for everything , He is sufficient for us and will not fail to meet all of our needs in this world and in the next.

God Bless.