R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds,
“Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes
and accept greetings in the marketplaces,
seats of honor in synagogues,
and places of honor at banquets.
They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext
recite lengthy prayers.
They will receive a very severe condemnation.”

He sat down opposite the treasury
and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury.
Many rich people put in large sums.
A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.
Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them,
“Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more
than all the other contributors to the treasury.
For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had,
her whole livelihood.”

During the grand ministry of St. Mother Theresa of Calcutta on the streets of Calcutta in India, it happened that a homeless man approached her with these words: “I know that you have many people who donate large sums of money to you for your work with the poor, the homeless, the dying on the streets of this city, but I would like to donate this change  to also help out.  He opened his hand, and behold: he had a few Ruppee (Indian money) the equivalent of about 30 cents — all the money he had.  She clasped his hand and took the coins from him as a donation.  When she did, she recalled, his eyes lit up and a huge smile graced his face, knowing that his donation to her was as special as someone who gave her a huge amount of money —all that he had.

It is the perfect example of the Gospel of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the widow’s mite — all that she had.

A question then: How much do we believe we can give of ourselves daily in our ordinary life? Yes, our stewardship of material things according to need, but also the giving of ourselves spiritually and with total commitment — all that we are — in our daily prayer morning and night, the rosary, hearing God’s Word, attending Sunday Mass, Confession, serving our family, our coworkers, friends whose faces we don’t yet recognize … How much are we giving of ourselves, and to whom?

And what will be the legacy of our days spent?  Are we giving what we have each day, letting our seemingly small sacrifices build according to God’s will? What are we waiting for?

This is the month of November when we remember the Faithful Departed. May they rest forever in peace. November, too, is a time when we meditate on the mystery of Death as it affects each of us. Do not wait till it is too late. Be like the widow’s mite: give to God all that you have first, and like the widow in the first reading today, your “jar of flour will not go empty,” and your “jug of oil will not go dry.”

Monsignor Michael J. Cariglio, Jr., Rector, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica and Saint Anthony Parish

In those days, Elijah the prophet went to Zarephath.
As he arrived at the entrance of the city,
a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her,
“Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink.”
She left to get it, and he called out after her,
“Please bring along a bit of bread.”
She answered, “As the LORD, your God, lives,
I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar
and a little oil in my jug.
Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks,
to go in and prepare something for myself and my son;
when we have eaten it, we shall die.”
Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid.
Go and do as you propose.
But first make me a little cake and bring it to me.
Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son.
For the LORD, the God of Israel, says,
‘The jar of flour shall not go empty,
nor the jug of oil run dry,
until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'”
She left and did as Elijah had said.
She was able to eat for a year, and he and her son as well;
the jar of flour did not go empty,
nor the jug of oil run dry,
as the LORD had foretold through Elijah.

Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands,
a copy of the true one, but heaven itself,
that he might now appear before God on our behalf.
Not that he might offer himself repeatedly,
as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary
with blood that is not his own;
if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly
from the foundation of the world.
But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages
to take away sin by his sacrifice.
Just as it is appointed that human beings die once,
and after this the judgment, so also Christ,
offered once to take away the sins of many,
will appear a second time, not to take away sin
but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.

It has long been a Catholic understanding that when circumstances prevent one from receiving Holy Communion, it is possible to make an Act of Spiritual Communion, which is a source of grace. Spiritual Communion is an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament and lovingly embrace him at a time or in circumstances when one cannot receive Him in sacramental Communion. The most common reason for making an Act of Spiritual Communion is when a person cannot attend Mass. Acts of Spiritual Communion increase our desire to receive sacramental Communion and help us avoid the sins that would make us unable to receive Holy Communion worthily.

Spiritual Communion Prayer

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love you above all things and I desire to receive you in my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally,

Come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace you as if you were already there

And unite myself wholly to you.

Never permit me to be separated from you.

Amen.