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Spiritual Reflection
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November 06, 2009 | | | |  | 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Nov. 8, 2009
Be hospitable to everyone because some have entertained angels without knowing it.
Today's first reading is one, among many in the Bible, that speaks of the importance of hospitality in the lives of the people. At the time of the First Book of Kings, which we heard today, hospitality was understood differently from how we understand it today. For the people of the time, it was the right of the person who was traveling to be received as the guest anywhere and at any time. In turn, it was the duty of the host to welcome the stranger into their tent and to serve them. The widow in our reading knew that she was obligated to welcome Elijah, but she tried unsuccessfully to discourage him. Reluctantly, she gave in to Elijah's requests and extended hospitality to him. Although she possessed little, she gave a portion of what she had to a total stranger. The hospitality she extended to Elijah was a courageous act; a kindness that might or might not be extended to her some day.
In today's Gospel, Jesus contrasts the behaviour of the rich people with a poor widow. He used the occasion of people depositing donations in the Temple treasury to point out to his disciples a very important lesson about true love. According to Jesus, it meant nothing for the people who had great wealth to give large amounts to the treasury. While it was a nice gesture, they were, in effect, giving from what they had left over. They would not miss their donation nor would it affect anything about their lives. In contrast, the widow contributed all the money that she had. Even though her few pennies were far less than the big donations, Jesus tells us that she had given more than all the others. For Jesus, it was the fact that, in an act of love, she gave from what little she had. The lesson for the disciples, and for each of us, is that we must also lovingly and generously give of our time, talent and treasure, and trust that God will take care of the rest. | | | | | |
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 Our Lady of Lourdes - In 1858, in a grotto, near Lourdes in southern France, Our Lady appeared 18 times to Bernadette Soubirous, a young peasant girl. She revealed herself as the Immaculate Conception, asked that a chapel be built on the site of the vision, and told the girl to drink from a fountain in the grotto. When Bernadette dug at a spot designated by the apparition, a spring began to flow. The water from this still flowing spring has shown remarkable healing power, though it contains no curative property that science can identify. Lourdes has become the most famous modern shrine of Our Lady. |
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