Don’t compare and despair! Fr. Eric Sundrup, SJ, reflects on the story of the poor widow and what it can teach us about our own offerings. Based on the readings for Sunday, November 11, 2021.
Compare and Despair
Hi, I’m Fr. Eric Sundrup and this is my one-minute homily.
I still remember the gentle voice of my spiritual director when I was a novice. Anytime I came to his office and started comparing myself to some ridiculous standard, or trying to be perfect, or judging my prayer life as not sufficiently insightful…
“Compare and despair, Eric. When we compare, we will despair.”
I offer that as a refrain to help us all take today’s readings to heart. Pointing out the poor widow, we hear Jesus say:
“For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.”
Give what you can, give who you are, give from your heart, and then stop worrying, or gloating, or compensating
Frankly, just stop comparing.
It’s not about the quantity, quality, or any of the other human standards. It’s about where it comes from. So give what is uniquely you and give it your all and trust that is all God is asking for.
Maybe If we all didn’t compare so much, we wouldn’t despair so much
