Dress to God's Word / "Liturgical Dress": Nov. 27

'Hand' tie pin: The Lord 'hand'ed King Jehoiakim over to King Nebuchadnezzar (1st reading)

'Owl' pin: In any question of wisdom, the king found them better than his magicians or enchanters (1st reading)

'Coin' button, 'money bag' tie pin: Poor widow putting in her livelihood of two small coins, vs. the wealthy giving from their surplus (gospel)

'Crown' tie bar: Kings Jehoiakim and Nebuchadnezzar (1st reading); Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (yesterday's celebration)

'Love' sticker, 'heart' pin: Widow's total offering (gospel); Christ, King of Love

Listen

For the gospel

For 1st reading

Read

Dn 1:1-6, 8-20 King Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah avoid defilement from king's food by passing 10-day vegetable test. God gave them knowledge and understanding. They entered the king’s service, were found better than the rest.

Dn 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56 "Glory and praise for ever!" Blessed are You in the temple, on the throne, in heaven...

Lk 21:1-4 Jesus, seeing wealthy making offerings and a poor widow putting in 2 small coins: “She put in more than the rest; they made offerings from their surplus, but she, from her poverty, offered her livelihood.”

"Widow's Mite" gallery

Reflect

Fr. Reynaldo Matunog homily video: How much can you give the Lord, and what's your motivation?

Creighton: While it's good to give from your wealth, it's virtuous to give from your poverty. Maximilian Kolbe, canonized in 1982, was declared a Martyr of Charity. Ocean of Mercy: Three Lives, One Vision, No Limit was my introduction to St. Max. Later, Fr. Gaitley's 33 Days to Morning Glory: A DIY Retreat in Preparation for Marian Consecration, which features him, caught my eye. In Auschwitz St. Maximilan gave up his life so that a man condemned to death could live; his life was a continuous string of virtuous acts. He gave from his poverty. He offered his livelihood to advance the Church's mission. May we offer acts of charity, giving from our poverty.

One Bread, One Body: "The 'all' call": Many wish the world would be saved, that war and violence cease, all human life be respected and protected, families be holy... Jesus has already saved us; we just need to apply his death and resurrection by believing, and expressing our faith by acts of love, worship, service, justice, and mercy.... To apply Jesus' salvation, we must give our lives to him as he gave his for us. We must not give 'much' but 'all.' The 1st 98% is easier to give than the last 2%....

Passionist: Most homilies on today's gospel say, “give till it hurts!” We need to give generously from the heart. But note: Jesus "noticed"; others were likely preoccupied with what they were giving, and the disciples were probably wondering what Jesus would say. How often do we notice and acknowledge acts of kindness or compassion? The International Charter for Compassion calls us to “dethrone ourselves from the center of the universe and put another there.” Can we notice like Jesus did? May we live in the present moment, acknowledge compassion when we see it, and be God's Kingdom on earth.

DailyScripture.net: "She put in all that she had": True love spends lavishly. The widow's gift of love is more precious than gold. Real giving must come from the heart, without a grudge, not for display. The widow could have kept one of her coins but didn't. If we put all we have at the Lord's disposal, God can work with it and us beyond our imagining.

Dress to God's Word / "Liturgical Dress"