09 June. Saturday of the 9th Week

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2 Tim 4:1ff. Paul has fought the good fight and finished the race; Timothy must continue teaching and never losing patience.

Mark 12:38ff. Beware of doing things for appearance’ sake, seeking places of honour, while exploiting the poor. 

Little Things Mean a Lot

Religion is denied its essential meaning if it degenerates into splendid vestments, front seat in synagogues and churches, places of honour at banquets, long prayers. To show how false is such a version of religion, Jesus praises the elderly woman who put two small copper coins, worth about a cent, into the collection box. She contributed more than all the others; for they gave from their surplus while she gave from her poverty. This is another way of arriving at the end of the journey and of finishing the race. The widow gave herself totally to the Lord.

 

First Reading: 2 Timothy 4:1-8

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favourable or unfavourable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.

As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Gospel: Mark 12:38-44

As he taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honour at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

 

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