GROW: If we reflect on today’s Gospel, it might be hard for us to envision Jesus ever dressed like an actual king! When Pontius Pilate asked him if he was a king, Jesus responded, “If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over.” Imagine: Jesus had spent the night in agony; his friends had all abandoned him; and, in a few verses, Pilate will deliver him to be scourged.

GROW: My brother-in-law inherited his father’s company. Although he studied business in college, he knew years before receiving his degree that, provided he was faithful to his studies, he would have a comfortable job waiting for him after graduation. We may not all inherit the same economic opportunities as my brother-in-law, but, as Christians, we are heirs of infinitely greater spiritual ones.

GROW: “Give it your all! Leave it all on the field! Trust in your training/preparation/coaches.” We’ve all heard a version of this type of exhortation. It requires a great amount of confidence and trust – faith, if you will – to let go of our doubt and fears. The two widows of today’s readings had such confidence, as they offer us heroic examples of faith. The widow of Zarephath uses her only remaining food to cook for Elijah. She did this after receiving God’s promise that, “The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry.”

GROW: It is not surprising that we hear both Moses and Jesus speak the same words in today’s Scripture. After all, Truth and Good News bear repeating! The Lord our God is Lord alone! “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” In these words, Moses is instructing the people to fear the Lord and keep all his commandments and in turn God would give them “a land flowing with milk and honey” (Canaan).