32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

32nd Sunday Year B. Mk 12:38-44 [Fr Donal McIlraith]

[38] And in his teaching he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go about in long robes, and to have salutations in the market places

[39] and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts,

[40] who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation."

[41] And he sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the multitude putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums.

[42] And a poor widow came, and put in two copper coins, which make a penny.

[43] And he called his disciples to him, and said to them, "Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury.

[44] For they all contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, her whole living."

Comments

1. These are Jesus last words in the temple. He is ending his week’s teaching here. He entered on a donkey as Messiah. As Messiah he cleansed the temple reminding them that a profound conversion was needed. Now he does two things, he blames the scribes for how they act and praises the poor widow.
2. The scribes know God’s law and are supposed to be the spiritual guides of the people. Jesus puts the people on their guard against the behavior of the scribes, against how they act. They emphasized their dignity by going around in long clothes. They wanted to be treated with honor everywhere. Now this was exactly what Jesus had reproached the disciples about. We saw how, on the road to Jerusalem, they too wanted to be first, to be important. The disciples have a hard time learning the lesson of the cross, the lesson of service as the only way to greatness. The scribes look forward to the Messiah, the Son of David, setting up a glorious kingdom like David’s and look forward to having important places in it – like James and John! This is not to be.
3. Among their worse faults is that instead of taking care of widows and orphans as commanded in Exodus 22:22-23, they manipulate them to benefit from them. This goes directly against the second commandment, love your neighbor as yourself ...

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