Last weekend's first reading mirrored the Gospel. The first reading showcased a widow who offered the remainder of her flour and oil to the prophet Elijah. The Gospel also showcased a widow who offered all that she had - two coins - into the temple treasury.
In both cases, the widows give God what they have.
In return, Elijah informs the widow and her son that they will have an abundance of flour and oil: "the jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry" (1 Kings 17:16).
Similarly, Jesus praises not those who gave from their abundance, but the widow who, "from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood" (Mark 12:44).
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| https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Museum_-_The_Widow%27s_Mite_(Le_denier_de_la_veuve)_-_James_Tissot.jpg |
Give God what you have.
As you consider your efforts as Catholic school leaders to be missionary, visionary, strategic, collaborative, analytical, and professional, how might you hold back on offering what you have to God?
Maybe we hold back because of a feeling of inadequacy - we aren't smart enough, skilled enough, we don't have enough time, or enough financial, structural, or personnel resources. Blessed with a poverty of time, experience, and/or resources, how often do we let perfect be the enemy of done?
Or, blessed with an abundance of any of the above, we can fall into the trap of only giving God our extras. How often do we keep God and His influence on our ministries relegated to just the moments where it feels safe and easy?
Given 15 minutes in between meetings, give God what you have. Get out to a classroom. Write a thank you note. Read an article that you bookmarked. Visit the Blessed Sacrament.
Of course, don't do all of these in 15 minutes. Instead, pick one and give God what you have.
Similarly, don't wait until you're perfect at something before you start to do it. As you're learning how to conduct observations and coaching sessions, do them anyways. Instead of waiting to begin work on a project until you have the perfect plan devised, take an initial step.
It's apostolic to build the plane while it's in the air.
Magnify God's greatness by giving Him what you have. In turn, He will magnify your efforts.
Don't worry about what you don't have or what you can't do. Instead, thank God for what you do possess and have the courage - like the women from last weekend's readings - to give all of it, even if it seems insignificant, back to Him.
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People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway.
- this poem was found written on the wall in St. Teresa of Kolkata's home for children in Calcutta
