25-Nov-19

Gospel LK 21:1-4

When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people
putting their offerings into the treasury
and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins.
He said, "I tell you truly,
this poor widow put in more than all the rest;
for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood."

Reflection

“The Widow’s Mite”

Through the poor widow, Jesus teaches us that the deepest measure of a gift’s value is the degree of sacrifice shown by the giver.

Nearly thirty years ago, I witnessed a poor grandmother give her newly delivered bed away to a young girl who was sleeping on the floor with her new born baby. In that moment the story of the “Widow’s Mite” came to life for me.

Twenty years ago, many wealthy people gave tens of thousands of dollars to help My Brother’s Keeper build a facility to serve the poor.

In pointing out that the widow gave all that she had “from her poverty,” Jesus is not minimizing the generosity of the wealthy; any
gift given out of love has great value in the eyes of God.

Whether what we offer comes from our poverty or from our wealth, genuine Christian joy is experienced when we give from our heart to help someone in need.

“Every unselfish act of love whispers God’s name.” Bob Goff