Mark 12,38-44.
Immediately preceding this gospel passage Jesus has criticised the teaching of the scribes. Here he attacks their religious practice. They make an ostentatious show of their piety with lengthy prayers to attract attention and win approval, and they oppress widows and grab their property- the little they have to live on. The disciples are to be aware of the contradictions between appearances and reality in the practice of the scribes, the learned lawyers of the day.
The second part of today’s gospel contrasts the generosity of a poor widow who puts everything she has into the temple treasury with the parsimony of all the others who put in some of their surplus cash.
Jesus sat down opposite the Temple treasury, facing the thirteen trumpet- shaped alms chests placed there to collect the offerings of worshippers. He watched the worshippers making their contributions. Some of the rich ostentatiously gave large amounts of money which jingled noisily down the throat of the trumpet shaped chest for all to hear.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus points out to them a poor widow who has furtively dropped into a chest two copper coins, the equivalent of a penny, the minimum offering acceptable in the Temple. To their surprise Jesus tells them that she has put in more than all the others who have given offerings.
The widow represents the most marginalised in Jewish society, the socially, economically, and religiously insignificant, the little people of that time. The others are the great and the good of Jewish society, the heavy- weights and celebrities of the day. Many of them contributed generously but the poor widow gave just two coins, but it was “all she had to live on.” Jesus singles her out, giving of all she had, as an example of someone who loved God with all her heart. She holds nothing back. She gives everything she has.
She exemplifies the total self-sacrifice of Jesus himself who will shortly give his life on the Cross for sinners.
She is a model of discipleship who gives all she had to her God.
She walked out of the Temple penniless by choice, totally dependent on, but trusting in, God’ providence for her future.
It wasn’t the quantity, but the quality, of her giving that made her unique.
Sometimes ordinary people (the little people) have the impression that God is only interested in the spiritual/religious high- fliers – the saints, and holy people. The widow’s “mite” teaches us that nothing or no one is too small or insignificant for God. His heavenly calculus is different from ours.
The widow’s story shows that our contributions, however puny they may seem, (our tuppence worth!), given with a loving heart, are wholly acceptable and valued in God’s eyes.
Today’s gospel invites us to look as well, at the time we give to God in our busy lives. How much of each day is spent in prayer to God, in looking after the poor, the homeless and needy?
Fr Geoff O’Grady