Delivered by Erica Tanzil from the Parish of Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. Daniel 1: 1-6.8-20; Rs psalm: Add Dan: 3: 52.53.54.55.56; Luke 21: 1-4.

A THOUSAND RUPIAHFOR GOD

Our meditation today is entitled: A Thousand Rupiahfor God. A child asked his father why their family always sat on the 5throw from the front every time the Holy Mass was being celebrated in the parishchurch. The child was quite aware that his parents would bring the whole familyto sit on that bench. They were always in that place before the mass began.Their feet stepped on the same floor and their heads went straight to the sameroof.

After the Mass, the father explained the reason to thechild. The reason was because of the thousand rupiah. From a young age andbefore marriage, he was impressed by the words of the parish priest at thattime. The priest said that each collection, the amount of which depends on eachperson, contributed in the construction of the parish church. Since then he hasnever been absent from giving a collection of a thousand rupiah.

When he got married and had a family, he used to bringto every Mass a thousand rupiah as collection. That family saw firsthand howthe church was renovated to its current shape. The cost of renovating thechurch indeed came from the routine collection of one thousand rupiah for thefamily and other families in the parish.

With such an understanding, the father and mother ofthe family always ensure that their place or position in the church must bereal and fixed. They showed it through a sign, that is to occupy a specialposition, so as to remind them of being special part of the membership of theChurch. Although their role and contribution to the Church are small, they havebecome an integral part of the growth of the Church as God's people. They justwant to make sure that they have the Church and at the same time the Church hasthem.

The father's explanation really made the child understoodand was eager to be always active in the life of the church in theirparish.  For all of us, one of the signsthat we are active and part of the Church is that we make our owncontributions. The condition for making a donation is very simple, namely togive sincerely and with all your heart. The gift is very appropriate torepresent ourselves, even though it amounts to only a thousand rupiah, but itexplains ourselves as people who have something to give.

The sacrifice of the poor widow narrated in today'sGospel gives us inspiration to give to God what is worthy of God and what makesour hearts satisfied and happy.

Let us pray. In the name of the Father ... O Lord, make us asgenerous and loving as you who always generous and loving to us. Hail Mary,full of grace... In the name of the Father ...