Crazy Involvement even to the cost of life
Lessons from two poor widows
In those days, Elijah the prophet went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the entrance of the city, a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her, “Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink.” She left to get it, and he called out after her, “Please bring along a bit of bread.” She answered, “As the LORD, your God, lives, I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar and a little oil in my jug. Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks, to go in and prepare something for myself and my son; when we have eaten it, we shall die.” Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid. Go and do as you propose. But first make me a little cake and bring it to me. Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son. (1 Kings 17)
Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.” (Mk 12)
They are the first reading and the Gospel of 10th of November. A rare day, where two women — again two widows — are the stars of the readings. Both of them are poor.
Why the widow prepare bread for Elijah? Yes Elijah made a promise to her that her jar of flour and jug of oil won’t dry till the end of drought. But why she had to believe him, especially in those moments of drought ?
Why the poor widow of the gospel had to put two small coins — which according to Jesus is everything she had. Why to give it away so much? No law makes her do that much.
Why to be fully involved, even at the cost of your life ? Is this not crazy?
Yes crazy involvement of some people — just like a crazy involvement of a man called Jesus — it is beyond rationality. It is crazy; but thanks to them, world still survives.
- Stan Swamy SJ or the social activists across the world were crazy involved in their situations that martyrdom or sufferings endured was okay.
- Think of so many people helping the refugees in different countries.
- Think of people who help the women who don’t have another option than aborting their child, but want to keep it too.
- Think of those crazy people who fight for the earth.
Be crazily involved somewhere — that event transforms you and everything around you. Results will be shown, sooner or later.
