Marist Association Daily Prayer

Let us always remember that

we are in the holy presence of God

May God continue to live in our hearts

In the name of the Father,

Son and Holy Spirit

Amen

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  • Intention of the Day
  • Today's Gospel
  • Breaking Open the Word
  • Marist Source
  • Reflection
  • Meditation
  • Call to Action
  • Closing Prayer

Intention of the Day

For Association Members experiencing hardship.

Marists at Galen Catholic College, Wangaratta.

For Association Members experiencing hardship.

Marists at Galen Catholic College, Wangaratta.

Today's Gospel

But she in her poverty has put in everything she possessed, all she had to live on.

Mark 12: 44.
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Mark 12: 38-44.

38 In his teaching he said, 'Beware of the scribes who like to walk about in long robes, to be greeted respectfully in the market squares,

39 to take the front seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at banquets;

40 these are the men who devour the property of widows and for show offer long prayers. The more severe will be the sentence they receive.'

41 He sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the treasury, and many of the rich put in a great deal.

42 A poor widow came and put in two small coins, the equivalent of a penny.

43 Then he called his disciples and said to them, 'In truth I tell you, this poor widow has put more in than all who have contributed to the treasury;

44 for they have all put in money they could spare, but she in her poverty has put in everything she possessed, all she had to live on.'

Breaking Open The Word

He praised her because she gave all.

Taken from: Give Us This Day
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Taken from: Give Us This Day

Extravagant!

Jesus does not call it the widow’s “mite.” We do. He praised her because she gave all.

It was the wealthy who gave the mite. We should call the story the rich person’s mite. To be sure, they were generous. They had means and they shared it. Praiseworthy enough But what they did could not hold a candle to what the widow did. She was munificent on a shoestring.

So why compare, then? Probably because that’s what the disciples were doing. They perhaps smiled or made disparaging remarks about the widow and her gift. Christ frequently took up passing comments, showing that even by their own standards the disciples did not make sense. “Why choose the best seat? You may be asked to move lower. Even by your own standards you lack insight.” No one became honorable by playing the part, looking important, being prominent. It’s the way of the world, though. Big people drive big cars.

We are called to be big. Not in the way of the world, but in the way of the widow—extravagant—in the way of the widow gathering sticks, bringing water to Elijah and bread, though she uses the last of what little she has for him. Extravagant woman. Like the poor Jesus who stripped himself of glory to become poor for our sake that he might lead us to glory and eternal riches in him. Extravagant!

So the call is to extravagance, not prudence; munificence, not shrewd calculation. We can do it once in a while. Doing it once in a while makes it possible to do it once and for all when we make a leap of faith and accept Jesus wholly and his Church—his Spouse, his Bride, his Body. No one who has drunk the wine of extravagance will ever stoop to stinginess on anything. Total gift brings total freedom.

Fr. Matthew Kelty, adapted from Gethsemani Homilies. Taken from Give Us This Day.

Fr. Matthew Kelty, OCSO (1915–2011), was a monk of the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani.

For Association Members experiencing hardship.

Marists at Galen Catholic College, Wangaratta.

Marist Source

Following Jesus is a response to a personal call. This is what set apart the way that Jesus taught and is also a distinguishing characteristic of our pastoral mission that we undertake and our way of accompanying people we are preparing for their life’s journey…

Pray for those with whom you work, who may be most in need of your prayer today.

# EMY 170.

For Association Members experiencing hardship.

Marists at Galen Catholic College, Wangaratta.

To Ponder

“From the little she had” – do you only give out of abundance? What could change?

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Where has the Spirit drawn you in today's prayer?

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Closing Prayer

All Loving God

Cultivate in us a spirituality that flows out of Marian simplicity, humility and modesty.

Release in us wellsprings of refreshment, inspiration and excitement for your work in which we share.

Help us set our gaze on those people and places most in need of Christlife,

Impel us to respond together,

And lead us to be in communion with one another, and with you.

Like Mary, we listen for your invitation,

Like Mary, we set out joyfully and in haste to the hill country of the lives of young people,

Like Mary, we build communities in ways that are Christ-centred.

All Loving God, come and live in our hearts.

 

 Amen