Gospel Reflections for November 11 2018
Election results
Like many people, I stayed up to watch the election returns and noticed how many contests were won by such narrow margins. Sometimes, only a few thousand votes separated candidates out of millions cast. I wonder if the day will come when a candidate wins by just one vote!
If you watched the results of the woman’s donation to the poor in today’s Gospel, you would know …she accomplished nothing for the poor! What she gave, which was all that she had, was so small in ancient monetary value that it could not really have helped anyone at all. However, Jesus notices not what she gave, but how she gave, and tells everyone how impressed He is at her personal commitment. The woman made a profound gift of her entire self. What kind of person does that?
Jesus instantly knows the nature of her generous heart. While others gave much larger gifts that attracted attention, Jesus also noticed their insincere hearts. They gave just to be seen as generous, while the woman gave to express only her genuine love. She must have thought deeply about her gift and prayed about it for some time. Her decision was a well-considered and thoughtful one, preceded by both careful reflection and intense emotions of love and compassion. Her decision became more powerful and effective than all the other gifts precisely because it was so authentic and genuine.
Perhaps we are slowly coming to that day when just one vote may decide the course of the direction of our country. While we might think our one single vote is of small value, it is clear that every single vote is becoming more and more important.
Whether you feel you won or lost this week, this Gospel reveals how powerful the actions of just one single person can be, and how much Our Lord pays attention to what we do and why we do it.
This week we remember all those who have served in our Armed Services, and even the heroic sheriff who died in Thousand Oaks. We are so grateful for their sacrifice for our safety.
This week, I am also deeply grateful to all those who sacrifice to support our parishes. Your gifts are always put to good use for the mission of Our Lord.
I am also asking all those who give nothing at all in the collection to honestly think again …and offer just something more of yourself to Our Lord …who offers so much to you. He will notice.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Yes I was not a happy camper after the election, however, in Church the next morning I was reminded that God does know what He is doing and as in the Gospel, one of our contributions needs to be to keep praying and trust God … We have had a lot of turmoil here in Thousand Oaks (even though I am in Simi), the fires and the killing of 10. Yes we need to be on our knees more.
Thousand Oaks people understand fires. They have seen many. A mass shooting is a new and deeply traumatic event. I am glad there were prayer services throughout the City of TO last well.
Yes I too was not happy how the election went but we must know God is watching over us all!
This week with Borderline such loss of life for all of those people is so sad! Our prayers for the Sgt & family! Even the gunman lost person causing such pain. We pray for healing in our community & now the fires. We need to come together even more in prayer & offering up what we can to help!
I know the people of TO will continue to be the good neighbors that they are. There is little safeguard against the loner with mental illness who also has a gun. All the survivors can count on continual support for sure.
Here in Thousand Oaks we have seen terrible loss for so many people. The demented murders and the disastrous fires. The human suffering left for those who have lost loved ones and those who have lost their homes is hardly imaginable to those of us who escaped loss.. Many homes have been lost, and undoubtedly many treasured possessions with them.
There is not much we can do to alleviate the suffering of those who have lost so much. But it is good encouragement for us to come forward with donations to Church, aid organizations and other opportunities for charity.
People who have suffered loss, whether from a death or loss of property do appreciate people in their circle of family and friends who accompany them in their grief. Remember that Our Lord’s final words before His Ascension were not, “There will be no more crime or fire” but rather, “I will be with you always!” Good to remember at this time.
We sooooooooooooooooooo need your love and precious prayers Father Dave!!! Our hearts are soooooooooooooooo hurting from the tragedy at Borderline!! Beautiful young people with beautiful lives to make the world a better place!!! We knew one of the beautiful young women, Noele!!! Such sadness!!! May our heavenly family embrace all these beautiful young peple in love!!!The fires too have been devastating!! Dick and I had to evacuate but we are home once again!!! Please keep us all in your precious prayers for our Westake and Thiusand Oaks are sooooooooooooooo hurting!!! We know our Jesus and our Mary are embracing us in love and we soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo need their love and yours tooooooooooo!!
Loveeee, franca and Dick
The whole nation has accompanied Thousand Oaks this week. You were never alone!
Hi Father Dave,
Now that California is ablaze N. and S., many people will find themselves with little if anything to give as those of us spared can give in many directions. Your own heart is very sad, I am sure as youve been struck twice: Once with the Thousand Oaks shooting and in a Country Line dance location at that. I love to Country Line dance. The fun going on with the music and dancing is sort of how life is…one minute we are here and the next minute gone. Best to give of ourselves to all those who are suffering. You are so right, the sacrifice of the woman in the gospel in that she was giving as much of herself as her money that was so small it didn’t seem to matter to most. Just now, we are giving ourselves. My own daughter and her family live in Pacific Palisades….that location has not been touched even though they look down onto Malibu and off to the south so Santa Monica. PCH closed and trucks running supplies up and down as students at Pepperdine staying in place. My daughter rerports she is running around bringing the food they have to keep them going just because they are cut off from shopping even while in tact in their homes, they are taking their food to others. God bless everyone. Many of my prayers are for you and your family and St. Paschal Baylon where you know so many who are at a loss now.