<h3>The Widow's Mite</h3>
Nov
12
Written by:
Sunday, November 12, 2006
32nd Sunday Ordinary Time
November 12, 2006
Today's gospel finds Jesus sitting in the temple area, watching people put money in the collection box (Mark 12:38-44). These containers were actually called "trumpets" (because that's how they were shaped). There were a series of these collection boxes designated for the upkeep of the temple and other religious needs. Many people would time their substantial contributions to be seen by others, so it was normal for people to sit and watch the parade of givers. Jesus joins these onlookers and sits down by the "trumpets."
Jesus sees a scribe go by in his flowing robes. Everything he did was designed to be seen by others. Then the widow unceremoniously slips by and drops the equivalent of two cents in; and, Jesus said she gives the most because it was a real sacrifice for her.
All of this is very much true to real life. Take St. Vincent de Paul for example. Not a few people will clean the house and find all kinds of unnecessary stuff to discard. They place ads for the valuable stuff, hold several garage sales and finally, bring the leftovers down to the St. Vincent de Paul truck and expect to be commended for this generosity! Some of this stuff may indeed be sellable, but don't expect Our Lord to be overjoyed by these "leftovers"!
Jesus makes several things clear in this gospel. First, he definitely keeps an eye on our contributions of time and money to his service. Second, he does not judge us by the amount. Instead, he judges our contribution by whether it was sacrificial, that is, whether it cost us something. If what we give is just the leftovers, that is not particularly pleasing to God.
The Lord also looks at our motives. Are we hoping for applause in our time or money gift? Have we thought about it? Our offering says a great deal about who we are and what our relationship with the Lord is. Whatever the amount of time or money we are called to offer, when we meet the Lord, he is liable to be holding it along with the interest we've earned to give it all back to us, not in pennies, but in spades
Father Gary