First Reading: Daniel 1:1-6,8-20
Gospel: Luke 21:1-4
In the first reading we hear about the young men who were in an extreme situation since they were slaves; in those days when someone fell into slavery, nothing was secure anymore, not even life.
And in the Gospel the poor widow who put two small coins in the offering box, was very poor, and was in an extreme situation. Both the young men and the elderly widow were in an extreme situation then, when they had to make a crucial decision.
The widow went up to the temple to adore God, to tell him that he was above all things and that she loved him, and she gave all she had to live on. Hers was more than generosity, it was something else: she chose to adore God to the very end.
The young men in the Old Testament also had the possibility of finding an emergency exit from their situation. Instead they said no. They made their choice: The Lord.
The young men and the widow took a risk, and in their risk, they chose the Lord, because they knew that the Lord is faithful. They entrusted themselves to his eternal faithfulness. The Lord is always faithful, for he cannot deny himself.
The Lord helped the young men and brought them out of difficulty; they were victorious and came to a good end. The Lord also helped the widow in the Gospel, for in Jesus’ praise of her, we find God’s praise ... and this is a victory.