Devotional for the Week

God’s Generosity Brings New Life

Devotional for the week of November 10, 2024

As we cross a busy street, a stranger’s cry of “WATCH OUT!” will certainly send our heart racing. Such an outburst may not be what we expect to hear, but it is the warning needed for us to get out of the way of an approaching threat. Jesus catches our attention with a similar word today: “Beware.” Beware the violence of a system that devours widows’ houses while hiding behind prayers and piety; there is danger here! But this is not the only relationship Jesus urges his followers to pay attention to today. He also invites them to be aware of how one widow in their community is responding: she gives—and gives generously. What might that mean for us?

God gives generously too. We often talk about God’s generosity being rooted in God’s love for us. From the moment we were baptized, we have been reminded of such love that goes with us through death and into the new life God brings. This love takes seriously all the things that tear apart our lives and world—and pays attention to where healing and repair might take hold.

God is always rooting for us, and we trust that Christ’s resurrection life will bring us through hardships when death has done its worst. What a gift it is to be gathered into the worshiping community week after week, to again be centered around Christ’s table and its generous promises of grace that renew us and make us whole: “The body of Christ, given for you; the blood of Christ, shed for you.” This is generosity! This is new life!

Yet we do not stay at the table. We are sent from it, together. Where do we go from here? Where might we share such grace and love this week? Perhaps not only “Beware” but also “Be aware” are our invitations to generosity as Jesus draws our attention to all the important relationships around us.