Mark 12: 38-44
The Word: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110721.cfm
Christian writer C.S. Lewis begins his essay entitled “Let’s pretend” with a short example about a man who wore a mask.
He tells of an unattractive
man who wore a more attractive mask for many years. He dressed up as another
person in a sense. After a long period
of time, he one day took off the mask and noticed that his face had conformed
to the shape of the more attractive mask and he was changed into something he
only could hope to become. Would that it
was all that easy!
The beautiful point Lewis
makes is that we, as followers of Christ, are called to a new form; a new image
and a significant change to be more like Christ himself, the Son of God and the
perfect example of a human being made in the image of God. The beast in us must be tamed and the
ugliness of sin replaced by the more beautiful. While the change is not meant
to be physical, it is meant to be one of character and holiness in our
Christian life. The best way to do this,
Lewis writes, is to imitate Jesus; to pretend to be like him not in an arrogant
way, but through humility, love and generosity. In a sense to put on his mask
and allow it to become our identity.
We can learn from Christ and
through constant imitation, even if it feels like pretending to be something we
are not, over time we become what we imitate.
It is somewhat like learning to overcome a bad habit. The more I replace bad behavior with good,
the more over time I will learn a new way and overcome what has been holding me
back. Sports athletes and musicians for example follow the same principle. They
may imagine, or at first pretend to be what they hope to become, and over time
and through practice, that goal may indeed be reached. Through God’s grace all
things are possible.
There is probably no better
behavior than to imitate the love and generosity of God. The ultimate example of this we hear in our
second reading today from Hebrews.
Christ came to “take away sin once
for all.” The outpouring of Jesus’
life in his death and resurrection offers us the ultimate example of
generosity. Something we should daily keep
before us, imitate and trust that God will change us so that in time we become
the person we may only at first hope to become.
The further example of the
two widows in the first reading from Kings and the Gospel of Mark, may offer us
a real life example. The first widow is
visited by the prophet Elijah who asks her for food after a long journey. The problem is, she has nearly nothing and is
found gathering bare existence for herself and her son. Still, the prophet insists, which seems a
little insensitive, but he assures her that God will provide if she acts in
faith. Indeed she does and she and her
son have enough food for a year’s supply. She trusted in the prophet’s word and
she was rewarded for that trust. In a further sense both the prophet and the
widow were blessed as both were relieved from hunger.
The second widow is the
familiar story of the “widow’s mite.” By
contrast Jesus notes the very wealthy, who probably offered only what was
required for the Temple treasury, leaves little to impress Jesus. Their giving is hardly sacrificial but
offered in order to continue the illusion of generosity and righteousness. They
look good in the eyes of others and grasp for positions of honor.
So the very poor widow with
barely an existence pours in the little she has: “Her whole livelihood,” as Jesus states. Her generosity was marked by a true sacrifice
and trust for her faith assured her, like the widow in our first reading, that
God would provide for those who trust in him.
So, there is a basic lesson
here in generosity; in how and why we give.
The “law of the gift” as stated by Pope St. John Paul II reminds us that
this is simply the way God has designed us and in some way maybe even nature
itself. The more that is given away, the
more returns. In order for life to
continue, for example, some of life must be given away and that produces more
life. In this habit of generosity, even when we feel that we have nothing to
give, over time we become more and more like Christ.
In the case of the widows,
and ourselves here, we recognize our call to imitate, to become more like
Christ. To give away ourselves is not
foolish. For in doing so, we receive
back so much more. Whether it’s sharing
of time, our treasure, our knowledge, our energy, our support and love towards
others we find that it all comes back to us hundredfold. The two widows acted in faith despite having
so little.
As priest and pastor I have
learned over the years that at the time I may not have any idea how my words or
actions are affecting a parishioner. But,
when a few years later you run in to that person and they share their
appreciation, you know that God worked through you.
Like C.S. Lewis’ example of
the man who wore the mask, when we put on the beauty of Christ, the values of
the Gospel, we over time become what we first pretend to be and later are. To imitate the kindness of God by generously
offering ourselves not for public recognition but as an act of faith in God’s
care for us, we become more attractive to God himself. God favors the humble and trusting ones. Those on the margin, the humble and trusting
who have no pretense are blessed indeed - the “poor in spirit.”
It’s so fundamental to how
we must live as Christians that to not be this way, we might say, is to no
longer truly be a credible disciple of the Lord. It’s like following a
group. Some are closer to the front and
others lag behind. Where are you, where am I in that line?
Self-centeredness and greed
fly in the face of the Christian Gospel. Our celebration of the Eucharist is all
about giving thanks and about allowing ourselves to be fed both in Word and
Sacrament to become who we hear and feed upon. In our effort to give without
counting the cost we can hope to become more and more like the one who came to
show us the way.
Put on that mask of
Christ. Follow his word, act in trust,
and God will form us to become more like who we imitate, each in the person God
created us to be.
------------------------------------------
Look with favor, we pray, O Lord
upon the sacrificial gifts offered here,
that , celebrating in mystery the
Passion of your Son,
we may honor it with loving devotion.
Through Christ our Lord
(Prayer over the offerings)
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