32nd Sunday Ordinary Time Cycle B November 11, 2012
1Kings 17:10-16 Hebrews 9:24-28 Mark 12:38-44
After this past week of national elections, the result to human hearts was once again twofold;
some were happy at the results, and some were sad.
It was an excellent turnout looking back, and most people I’m sure either voted their conscience
or their wallet, or possibly both. And the men and women we voted in, whether newly elected or
returning incumbents, have a solemn and serious obligation to first and foremost serve the common
good.
This term common good meaning, among other things, the protection, respect, and dignity of all
human life from the moment a pregnancy begins to our natural dying day; common good meaning
caring in solid and concrete ways for the needs of the poor and disenfranchised, living in our lives God’s
option for the poor found in the Gospels; the common good of ensuring medical care and assistance
where needed; the common good of protecting the sanctity of the family unit, on which any vibrant,
loving, and lasting society is based; the common good of being good stewards of the earth while using
and benefiting from all that God has created for our use; the common good of seeking peace, not war
with the serious option of defending the ways of peace where applicable. Just to name a few.
Our public officials have serious responsibilities, and we pray they do take their responsibilities
seriously as for the good of all, in the same manner we take ours seriously. In order to reach a high
success rate in our desire to promote the common good, we look to today’s readings for the virtue
found at the heart of that success; humility.
An arrogant public official is ultimately ineffective, just as an arrogant priest is ultimately
ineffective.
A widow who tosses her last dollar, dime, or penny into the Temple tax box is a widow who
performs an act of great humility. This is what Jesus notes and points out in her. Her generosity also,
yes. But even more the humility to take all that could supply her physical comforts and personal needs,
and drop it so openly and willingly into a public container.
This widow is someone who could care less where she sits in the marketplace, or in the
synagogue, or at banquets. There was no regard whatsoever for visibility and show. She must have been
embarrassed if she overheard what Jesus said about her. She must have wanted to run and hide as Jesus
commended her and lifted her up to angelic status. What she thought would be no big deal – dropping
her last coin into the treasury – would become an act recognized and called out by Jesus, thus
recognized and called out by the angels in heaven. She must have turned as red as a tomato at all the
attention given to her humility.
At this Mass on this Veteran’s Day, I hope to make another person turn red, except his redness
will have to happen in heaven. Fr. Ed Connors, as I hear more and more stories about his life and
personality, had much in common with the widow in the Temple, and even the widow God sends Elijah
to in the 1st reading. He was a very simple man, much like the widow. Didn’t care much for money, much
like the widow. Dressed very plain, much like the widow, sometimes wearing two different color socks.
Fr. Connors’ priestly service, whether overseas during World War II as a priestly servant to
1000’s of soldiers, or his priestly service to 1000’s of families over 50 years of priesthood in Worcester,
was centered in love and humility.
Lest we forget, this priest was, as we like to say, a bigshot. He knew Generals and politicians. In
his popularity, however, he made certain he remained small. Small in the sense of remaining humble.
Every person who needed assistance in his life was seen as a child of God, and no less important than his
closest friends, who were known by thousands of people.
His good friend General Westmorland jokingly called Fr. Connors the worst soldier he had ever
seen, but seriously called him the best priest he ever knew. If the image of Fr. Connors during World
War II holding a wounded Rabbi in his arms, who would go on to die in his arms, if this image could have
been seen by all, Jewish-Catholic relations would have made great advances just from this real-life
heroic and loving act.
If all the miles Fr. Connors traveled after returning from the war could be added up, traveling
throughout the states to personally visit the parents of soldiers from the 9th Division who died in
combat, we would lose count of the miles. This was dedication beyond the call of duty. But it was
humility in real time, real places, and with real grieving people.
The stories could go on.
As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the memorial on our grounds, dedicated on November
11, 1962, when John Kennedy was President and just days after the Cuban Missile crisis, we truly
celebrate the life of a priest who made big things happen while remaining personally small. His humility
of priestly service mirrored that of the Temple widow who Jesus adored and acclaimed.
We ask this day that the former 30 year Pastor of this parish will pray for us, to intercede with
Jesus on our behalf, so that our lives will continue to reflect the virtue Jesus called out in the Temple.
Humility keeps us centered, and egotistically small, while allowing us the capacity to do great things in
the name of God.