This weekend’s first reading, the story of the widow in Elijah’s time, and the Gospel of the widow in Jesus’ time, prompt us to take a hard look at our individual and communal giving practices. As followers of Jesus Christ, we see clearly that God is the giver of all. That raises the question: What portion of our blessings do we give back to honor God and build up God’s Kingdom on earth?
In this reflection, instead of emphasizing the spirit of giving often connected with the story of the widow’s mite, I’d like to share some ideas that convey the perspective that it is not all about GIVING. This summer’s siege of storm devastation and raging fires in the western U.S. is often blamed on changing weather patterns. But is not much of it due to poor land management, human carelessness and a growing history of trying to control the forces of nature? The Benedictine value of STEWARDSHIP (preserving the earth and respecting people) calls us to responsible care rather than oppressive authoritative dominance. Our current readings from the Rule of Benedict remind us: “Treat all things as INSTRUMENTS of the ALTAR.” “A good word is better than the best gift.” Living out the Benedictine value of prudent stewardship can require a radical shift in our thinking lest we too easily become accustomed to regarding earth’s resources as if they had no intrinsic worth. For example, the demand for fast, prepackaged food contributes to the stripping of rain forests in order to provide pastureland. In the process, many Indigenous peoples have been rendered homeless, and the habitat of endangered species has been lost forever. Advances have been made in the production of biodegradable substances but so far, it’s only resulted in a reduction in the time it takes plastics and Styrofoam to disintegrate – they still constitute a hazard to the environment.
One of the biggest offenders is plastic bottles. In landfills toxic gases are leached into the environment causing a variety of health issues. Landfills in the U.S. have over 2- million discarded plastic bottles that each take up to 1,000 years to decompose. How many thousand years did we toss into the landfill this week? In the last month? Trying to conserve by switching from plastic to glass containers is foiled here in our county because glass is not recycled. Our primary motivation is that all (now and in the future) may have a share in God’s gifts. We have to think bigger than the cash register. Each day is our moment to resist any act of violence against creation.
We wrestle prayerfully with questions about how we can adopt, and adapt, to a simpler lifestyle: letting go of some things, being patient when our preferences are denied by unavailability of pantry supplies. We have to start where we are, doing what we can, with the insight and energy we have to make a difference. Maybe we begin with one thing, one purchase, one habit a month that we change. For example: spend a few pennies more to make a purchase from a local vendor that you usually make at a big box store. Or make a pint or gallon purchase of hand soap instead of several smaller bottles. Run 2-sided copies and use scrap paper for note pads. After a month, don’t forsake the new habit, keep it up and add a new pattern. By the end of the year, you’ll be 12x more conservative. You may ask: how does doing any of this help the people in the 3rd world? The truth is, it doesn’t directly. It changes YOU. At the heart of our actions must rest the conviction that our world belongs to God and any misuse dishonors the Creator.
The widow in the Gospel was made destitute by life’s circumstances. We by no means live a life of destitution – but we know people who do. We are invited to ask ourselves: What can I, what can we, do to reverse the destructive patterns of life that are making a negative impact on our earth and in the lives of those we profess to serve? In the mix, is the challenge THINK GLOBAL, ACT LOCAL. Each day we are challenged to figure out what to do with our “too much”? The answer is NOT to find an empty shelf, an empty room, to store it. If we are not using it, do we REALLY need it? If we haven’t worn it since we moved into this building, who could use it? If we have forgotten we ever had it, did we ever really need it? Are we saving it because, deep down, we don’t trust God to come through for us on a “rainy day?” We can only give from our need if we trust (really and truly deep down) that God will provide. We can sing God’s praises with Elijah’s widow in tomorrow’s first reading because, for nigh on 137 years, our community “jar of flour has not gone empty” and “our jug of oil has never run dry”.
~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB
Thank God for the gift that Veterans have offered for our nation and for world peace …. Remember, too, the families of veterans … their lives too were, and are, affected by the impact on service women and me … witnessing the effects of turmoil between peoples and nations. Pray for strength for veterans and their families to be compassionate, supportive, faithful to relationships and seeking available medical and mental services.
Have a good week!
