10 June, 2023 | Saturday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Gospel Mk 12:38-44
In the course of his teaching Jesus said,
"Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes
and accept greetings in the marketplaces,
seats of honor in synagogues,
and places of honor at banquets.
They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext,
recite lengthy prayers.
They will receive a very severe condemnation."
He 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."
Reflections
The scribes were the experts in interpreting the Law of Moses and the Pharisees were the experts in upholding it, and the Law of Moses was the heart of Jewish culture; it separated the Jews from all other peoples. The scribes felt they were being generous with God by giving him their money, their knowledge, and their talents – all those things they had received from him in the first place.
“Beware of the scribes,” because it is so very easy to become self-indulgently religious, and that’s the first step to idolatry. May God preserve us from becoming scribes like them. Whenever I call your name, you listen to me. What more can I desire, Lord? Thank you. I trust in you. Your will be done
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