32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (November 7, 2021)
1 Kgs 17.10-16; Heb 9.24-28; Mk 12.38-44
Catholics – whether clerics or members of the lay faithful – especially those active in the pro-life movement, must be careful to avoid the mistake of the scribes in today’s Gospel. We can be stubborn, not surrendering our hearts and egos to God but smugly using our position, knowledge, passion, and rightness on certain issues to draw attention and honour to ourselves.
Talking to your friends and colleagues about abortion is good. Marching in the March for Life is commendable, as is participating in the 40 Days for Life and Life Chain. Financially contributing to Priests for Life Canada or other pro-life organizations is also praiseworthy.
But unless we imitate the poor widow, who quietly and humbly demonstrates her total dependence on God and detachment from the things of this world, even we will be susceptible to the self-important posturing and shallow pretentiousness of the scribes.
Pro-Life Intercession
That as we look forward to the coming of Christ, we may actively build a world that seeks justice and respects life at every stage, we pray to the Lord...