Apocalypse 14:1-5 / Luke 21:1-4
The number 144,000 has been the topic of discussion and speculation. Of course if that number is understood as literal instead of symbolic, then many absurd problems will arise.
One absurd fundamentalistic opinion would be that there will be only 144,000 that will be saved and these are the chosen ones for salvation.
But as it is, the number 144,000 is the product of 1,200 multiplied by 120 and the meaning here is that the number 12 represents God's people and hence 144,000 represents the multitude of God's people in heaven - actually a countless number.
As the 1st reading puts it, they are the people who "never allowed a lie to pass their lips and no fault can be found on them."
Yes, these are the people who know the cost of following Jesus and were prepared to pay the price and indeed paid the price.
The poverty-stricken widow in the gospel also knew what it meant to present an offering to God - and that means everything.
Her two coins were of little value but it was her all and her everything, and that was why Jesus said she had put in more than anybody.
We may think that it was absurd that the poverty-stricken widow would want to give her all and everything.
But would we also think that it was absurd that we would never allow a lie to pass our lips and that no fault can be found on us?
The "144,000" didn't think it so, because they knew the price of following Jesus and were prepared to do so. May we also think likewise.