On this thirty-second Sunday of ordinary time, the church encourages us to learn and appreciate the virtues of generosity and hospitality. As Christ generously offered himself for our salvation, she reminds us that we, too, must be generous to others. One theme common to the readings of this Sunday is generosity and trust in Divine Providence.
There are many lessons for us in today’s readings. First, all the two widows in our readings were generous. Second, they all trusted in the Divine Providence. They teach, or remind us of these simple principles of generosity and prosperity that: Givers, never lack”, and “Blessed is the hand that gives, and the hand that receives.
In life, moments of scarcity, are moments of tests. They are moments to trust in Divine Providence. They are moments of great blessings. So, Tobit advice us that: “It is better to give alms than to treasure up gold…. Those who perform acts of charity and righteousness (generosity) will have fullness of life” (12, 8.
As our great provider (Gen 22:14), “God is ready to supply all our needs according to his riches in glory, through Christ” (Phil 4, 19). He knows our needs and how to meet them. All we need to do is to trust in His Divine Providence. So, let us ask Christ to grant us a very generous heart, so that we can sow with joy because: “God loves a cheerful and generous giver” (2 Cor 9:7).
Celebrating this week…
Remembrance Day: 11 November 2024
Remembrance Day is a yearly memorial day that is observed in many Commonwealth countries, including Canada, to remember those who died in military service, and honour those who served in wartime. It is observed across Canada each year. This is the day to pray for peace, to consider what we are doing as individuals, as a community and as a nation to bring God’s peace into the world.
Saint Josaphat, Martyr for Christian Unity: 12 November 2024
St. Josaphat was born John Kuncevic about 1580 in Vladimir, a village of the Lithuanian Province of Volhynia (then a part of the Polish Kingdom begun under the Jagellonian Dynasty). His parents belonged to the Eastern Rite Church of Kyiv (Ukraine) which was then separated from Rome.
Josaphat’s death brought a movement toward Catholicism and unity, but the controversy continued, and the dissidents, too, had their martyr. After the partition of Poland, the Russians forced most Ruthenians to join the Russian Orthodox Church.
St. Albert the Great: 15 November 2024
The saint and doctor of the Church who would be known as Albertus Magnus was born sometime before the year 1200.
We do not know for sure all the details of his family origins, but we know he was well educated. He attended the University of Padua where he learned about Aristotle and his writings. This instruction in philosophy would become the foundation of his later work.
Sometime around the year 1223 or so, Albert experienced an encounter with the Blessed Virgin Mary. This encounter moved him so much that he chose to become a member of the Dominican Order.
He was the teacher and mentor of St. Thomas Aquinas. Albert became ill in 1278 and he died on November 15, 1280. Albert was beatified in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV. He was canonized and recognized as a doctor of the Church in 1931, by Pope Pius IX. He is the patron saint of scientists.