The theme of a burning desire to follow God resonates in all three of the readings for today. In the first reading the hundred and forty-four thousand “…are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes.” This emphasizes the importance of complete loyalty and trust in God. The longing for a pure heart is evident in the refrain of the Responsorial Psalm, “Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.” This longing is a movement initiated by the Spirit toward greater union with God. This dedication and desire prove essential in following Christ.

In Luke’s Gospel, the widow provides a concrete example of living out this dedication and desire. Although the wealthy may have more money to offer, she gives her two small coins to the treasury which was a huge sacrifice for her. The widow “…has offered up her whole livelihood.”

The idea of offering up my “whole livelihood” is a challenge for me. I struggle to direct every thought, word, and action of mine towards God. This means that, like the widow, I contribute all that I can in order to live out the kingdom of God here on earth. I sometimes tend to look upon my good deeds as paling in comparison to others who have served and lived amongst the poor or even who participate in numerous service hours every week. I seek to humble myself to realize that I am living like Christ every time I choose to follow Mother Teresa’s message: “Every person is Christ for me, and since there is only one Jesus, that person is the one person in the world at that moment.” Every person needs to be loved and to be treated as a unique individual. I express this love when I greet those I pass on my way to and from class or when I choose to treat someone I find more difficult to love with the respect and kindness he or she deserves. In these ways I strive to emulate the widow by contributing my own gifts and talents rather than comparing them to those of another.