“Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more
mark 12:43-44
than all the other contributors to the treasury.
For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had,
her whole livelihood.”
Mark 12:38-44
Reflection
Jesus describes how the scribes will receive a severe condemnation because of how they act and use their position of power as a weapon. Jesus also witnesses a poor widow contributing two of her few coins to the treasury, and praises her over the other people who give more, but which comes from their excess wealth.
When we are generous with our time, talents, and treasure (money), Jesus is greatly pleased. He wants us to use what we’ve been given and what we’ve earned to help the poor, donate to church, etc. The key is that when we do give, financially for example, it should be from our regular income, not from the excess wealth we may have.
It is more fruitful to give from our everyday living – our money and our time. It is more valuable to donate money or volunteer time from what we currently have because it not only causes us to rely more on God, but also helps us grow in generosity and love of neighbor, rather than only giving when we have extra cash or a free weekend to spare.
Jesus wants us to be generous with what we have, and when we prioritize being generous – in various ways – he will richly reward us. Reflect on how you give of your time, talents, and treasure. Is it only when you’re comfortably stable? Ask Jesus to help you become more generous in whatever particular way he is calling you.
Saint of the Day
St. Leo the Great: AD 400 – 461
“For he who is true God is also true man; and there is no deception in this union, where the loftiness of God and the lowliness of man are brought together. Just as God is not changed by his act of mercy, so man is not swallowed up by the dignity. Each form acts in cooperation with the other, according to its own nature: the activity of the Word is that which is appropriate to the Word, and the flesh carries out that which is appropriate to it.”
St. Leo the Great, Letter 28
The Healing Word 