The Scribes denounced, A poor widow commended

Today's Reflections

The Scribes denounced, A poor widow commended 

http://graceandspace.org

Mk 12:38-44

³⁸In the course of his teaching [Jesus] said [to the crowds], “Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, ³⁹seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. ⁴⁰They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation.”

⁴¹He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. ⁴²A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. ⁴³Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. ⁴⁴For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.”

Reflection:

This poor widow put in more. Jesus tells his disciples that a poor widow who has dropped “two small coins” into the temple treasury has put in more than the other contributors. These two coins, worth a few cents, are all she has, and yet she gives them all. In contrast, the others who have put in large sums give from their surplus wealth.

The woman does not think of withholding a coin for her needs because she is certain that God will take care of her. God, whose generosity is boundless, will not forsake her.

In another sense, the poor widow offers her whole self, her whole life, her whole being. She makes the sacrifice without reservation because of her love for God.

In the light of the widow’s example, it is good to recall when we last gave our most precious possession to Jesus or made a supreme sacrifice for Jesus. We must admit that there are parts of our life, daily activity, or ourselves that we do not totally surrender to Jesus. Something keeps holding us back from Jesus. Let us imitate our very own Saint Lorenzo Ruiz who, condemned to die, declared, “If I have a thousand lives to offer, I will offer them all to God.”

How much and how far are we willing to give for God

and to share with our brothers and sisters?