Krysallis

Often we are content with the message that meets the eye in Scripture. Seldom are Scriptural messages that simple. There are often layers of meaning, and the most important meaning of the passage lies hidden. And, often, a message of Liberation and Social Justice is the one that lies hidden.

At first blush, the readings from Kings and Mark from today's liturgy look like models of giving. We have two widows, both of whom are poor, who give more than they can afford. The Gospel contrasts this generous giving with the scribes, who desire public recognition and places of honor and who "devour the houses of widows as they ... recite lengthy prayers."

But, important as these models of generosity may be, there is a more basic message to be had here, if we dig a little deeper.

The glue binding the two readings is found in the responsorial psalm: "The Lord keeps faith forever". And who are the people with whom the Lord keeps faith? The psalm lists the "oppressed", the "hungry", the "imprisoned", the "blind", "those who are bowed down",the "just", "strangers", "the fatherless and the widows". Thus the generosity of the widows in both readings is an act of faith in a God who keeps faith.

Financial planning may be important and necessary in these brutal times, but what a generosity that "keeps faith" may demand is dipping into the bank account to help a needy person or support a cause related to Social Justice. Personal and family security may be a high priority, but keeping faith is found in the family who stays in a deteriorating neighborhood and maintains their house and garden as if they were in an exclusive community. Good ministry is important to the life of a church, but keeping faith may cause members of a parish or church community to maintain their involvement while patiently encouraging, giving feedback to, and trying to recognize the gifts of a new minister who doesn't measure up to the one who went before. A good education of children is an important foundation, but keeping faith may challenge parents not to abandon a school scoring lower on state achievement tests but to support education and teachers and programs. (My wife is a third-grade teacher who commutes through tough traffic from our town, where there are new school buildings, parent support, and high-achieving students, to her job in another community where families are struggling economically and children perform only marginally. She is "keeping faith.")

The Lord keeps faith forever. Unflagging, never failing, indefatigable faith-keeping enabled the giving of the widows in today's readings and invites us as well to extend ourselves in enduring generosity.