The readings today continue the recent theme of God’s sovereignty over us all. While kings and queens may lord over their earthly domains, and some reign with a just and righteous hand and others with turmoil, we can always be sure of what God will provide us with. Consistent and everlasting love.

But how can we recognize that love?

Daniel shows that love in the first readings today by sticking to the dietary requirements of the times. He did not want to offend God by taking foods that were forbidden.

Daniel was obeying the heavenly king who ruled over his life versus just pleasing the earthly one … Nebuchadnezzar.

The result was the great gift of wisdom and prudence bestowed upon him.

However, when we look to the poor widow giving her two small coins in the Gospel we see the response that God wants from us in our life.

While it is wonderful when a wealthy person gives generously to the Church, they are not giving all they have. Giving all you have to God is also not just a financial commitment, but rather a love of God that does not even require generosity, it is way beyond this.

So what does this mean? If we give all we have to those that need it, it’s about total trust, complete worship, returning that love that He has given us over the years.

The abandonment of our own selves to Him is a very difficult thing to do. Have you ever been faced with the option of giving someone a few dollars who needed it, but you only had 10 or 20 in your wallet? What did you do?

Did you trust that the $20 would be replaced, even though you might have had to go short on something that week? Or did you hold off and not give anything?

The widow gave it all, in her trust, and even though it was much less than the rich man could give, it was an act of complete trust and love for God, knowing he would take care of her needs.

Yesterday I was at a meal service ministry in Lawrence. I was the server for six children, ranging from the age of 6 to 12 years old. 5 of them were siblings and one was a cousin of the family. Over the course of an hour and a half, they ate many courses of food, drank milk and apple juice, cared for each other, cutting food for the younger siblings, helping them in the bathroom, joking with me about my age and accent.

These children did not have gloves or hats on a very cold fall day when they arrived, but after having a full meal together, we sent on their way with hats and gloves to help them through their winter.

It was the most beautiful experience of my week to serve these children, and while I can bask in the beauty of them breaking and sharing food together, I also recognize that I am just another person passing by them in their lives, as they rely on the good people who provide for this pantry many days of the week.

It is in giving that Jesus wants us to understand the value of generosity. It is not what we give that counts, but rather what we keep.

The beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount come to mind here. Here the first one “Blessed are the Poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven”.

This speaks directly to the heavenly kingdom of God awaiting us if we are willing to trust in him. Be humble enough to understand that all our possessions, all our gifts, all of it he has given us on this earth are by his grace alone. St. John Chrysostom says: This understanding gives us our “spiritually poor” position in life.

A desire and intention to be humble in body and soul, in mind and feelings, in words and deeds. If we don’t hold back the reward is infinite.

The fifth beatitude “blessed are those who are merciful to others, for they shall obtain mercy”.

The widow giving her small but complete self in her gift says it all. Are we willing to give up that much?

The Gospel and readings today are not really just about praising God or sharing earthly wealth.

It’s about our personal relationship with God. The more that we work to try and align ourselves to doing the right thing for others, even when it means that we are second in line, we are moving towards God. Christ helps us identify this need …

“whenever you did this for one of the least important of these brothers of Mine, you did it to Me” (Matthew 25, 40).

Yesterday evening, I saw the face of Christ in each of children at the food pantry as they eagerly enjoyed their meal together. I see it in prisoners who have made great mistakes in their lives, but have become united with God as their solace.

I see it today in your faces at our communion service together. In your desire to become one with God in the partaking of the Eucharist together.

Christ wants us to start to notice the “little people” giving their all in life to others, as much as they have. After all we are all still children in some way, even after we become parents or grandparents.

Let us pray that we can achieve the love of God present in the obedience of Daniel and love like the widow with two coins.