Give the Whole

Reflection on Today's Readings 9th Week in Ordinary Time Year II, Saturday 6th, 2020

Texts: 2Tim. 4:1-8; Ps. 71:8-9,14-17,22; Mark 12:38-44

We are to commit our whole lives to the service of the gospel. In another words, we are to make the gospel our lives. This happens when we live for the gospel. That is the call of St. Paul in the first reading: "preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching". This is possible when we live for the gospel, that is, when  our existence makes the word real and concretizes it in action and deeds. When we give the gospel our whole, then, it becomes easy to preach the word in and out of season with urgency and commitment. We give the gospel our whole, when whatever we do or say reflects the value of the gospel at all times. We will no longer take a break from the life of the gospel; no excuse anymore for deviating from the gospel value. We will not afford to pervert justice because of threat to our lives; honesty will be our watchword no matter the persuasion or material inducement; we will not cheat no matter the gain; we will maintain our integrity no matter the suffering etc. Whenever we take a break from living the gospel, we have refused to give it our whole and also to preach it in and out of season. Preaching in and out of season means preaching the gospel whether it is favourable or not in relation to time, place and person.

Jesus Christ, in today's gospel, praised a widow who put all she had in the treasury. Her offering worthed more than others because she gave her whole, all she had. She gave everything and put her hope in God; she entrust her life into the hands of God. From that moment she waited on God to live. 

When we give our whole to service of the gospel, we display our hope in God and our firm trust in his Providence. On this account, threat to our lives means nothing to us, for our God is able to deliver us; suffering means nothing but blessing; material things serve nothing but the purpose of God.

Unlike the scribes, our lives become true to the gospel. Dear friends, let us give the gospel our whole and we will live true to our faith; we will no longer be fake.

Lord Jesus Christ, help us to be devoted to your gospel and give it our whole. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke