Be joyful givers and to do so from a desire to sacrifice to God and His Church.

The month of November starts out with the Church’s celebrations when we call to mind all the Saints and remember all the souls who have died and gone before us. It is good to keep in our prayers our beloved deceased family members and friends. God’s Divine Providence is made known to us through the story we hear in the first reading today. The Prophet Elijah tells a widow and her son not to worry about their food supplies, but that God will take care of it, not only for them but Elijah as well. The widow heeds the message and follows Elijah’s instructions, thinking she was soon to die because of no food that the drought had brought upon them. But the three of them ate from what was supplied for a year until the rain came once again. Jesus in the Gospel observes the people putting their tithe into the treasury box, for most Jesus said it comes from their surplus, as they have more, but the poor widow that comes forward gives from all that she had, the two small coins worth only cents. Yet Jesus praises her for her giving back to God from the little she had, while the others Jesus says could give much more, as what they have given is not sacrificial. This teaches us, to be joyful givers and to do so from a desire to sacrifice to God and His Church. For God will provide for all of our needs when we trust in His Divine Providence and we give from the heart!

Blessings, Fr. Fred