All throughout this season of Ordinary time in the Church we are asked to perform a self-evaluation of our discipleship to Jesus. Over the past five Sundays we heard Jesus’ talk to his disciples and us about: 

• marriage, relationships, and the blessings of family life
• prioritizing trust in God over attachment to material possessions
• the importance of humility and servanthood in following him
• spiritual blindness and how Jesus can give us new vision
• obedience to God’s commandments, both in our thoughts and in our hearts

Ordinary time is almost complete. It ends next Sunday.    

So, my question for you: are you all in? All in on your discipleship and trust in the Lord? Today’s readings give us four examples of people who trusted in God for everything and gave generously.

In the first reading, Elijah went to Zarephath. Why? There was a drought where Elijah was living, and God told him to go to Zarephath and that a widow would feed him. Trusting in God, he goes and meets the widow. He asks for water and food, but she tells him she has very little left, barely enough for one final meal for her son and herself before they die of starvation. Elijah says, if you do this for me, God will provide for your needs. So, trusting in God, she makes him his cake and all three have enough food for a year. These two were “all in”, placing their trust and their very existence in the hands of God.

How do you think you would react if you were the woman in the story, asked to give up from the little you have? Would you be “all in” and trust that God will provide for you and your son?  Could you be trusting like Elijah, sent to a new land with nothing? That new “land” or place for us maybe outside our comfort zone to help someone in need.  

The third person who trusted in God and gave generously, was the poor widow in the Gospel. What is interesting to me in this story was no one was interacting with Jesus, other than his disciples. Jesus is there observing the people as they put money into the treasury. He comments not only about the amount of money each is putting in, but how they give. Let’s not focus too much on the money here, the story could have been about food or some other tangible or valuable item. Money is being used here as an analogy to our heart and soul and how much do we give to God.

Did you notice the widow put in two small coins? That’s all she has. She could have kept one, right? But she is generous, and true generosity requires sacrifice. It is easier to give when we have a lot and harder when we have little. I think that is why it can be hard for us at times to trust completely in God. We may hold back just that little bit, just in case. But God want all of us.  

All that we have comes from God. The food we eat, our intelligence and reason, the ability to do the things we are good at, ability to love, even our good looks come from God. And yes, you all look beautiful! Do we go “all in” as did the poor widow, giving all we have from our poverty, or do we hold something back? Are there times where we must save for future needs or realize we can’t do everything? Absolutely, and God understands. We can’t, however, hold back for selfish reasons. 

I listened to a talk from Bishop Barron where he discussed the Law of the Gift, which is from St. Pope John Paul II. Bishop Barron states the law as, “Your being increases in the measure that you give it away.”    “Your being increases in the measure that you give it away.”  

I think this ties directly to today’s readings. It is our time and talent, along with our treasure that we should look to give away freely and lovingly. And the more we give, the more God will give back to us. We can never out give God. 

Remember that I said there were four people? Can you guess who is the fourth person? It’s Jesus. Our second reading reminds us how Jesus trusted completely in the Father’s plan and sacrificed all of himself for us on the cross. He gave all he had for us. He did not hold back. That’s how much he loves each of us. The widows in the readings give us examples of people who love, trust and sacrifice all they have, imitating Jesus. Our sacrifices, great and small, are in the imitation of Jesus. It’s not the amount that we give but our spirit of generosity and love by which we give that we will be judged.  

Jesus wants all of us, and every part of us to be his disciples and live out the Gospel. It will take sacrifice. Are you all in?