Monday, June 5, 2017

Reflection for Saturday June 10, Ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 12:38-44

Gospel: Mark 12:38-44
In the course of his teaching Jesus said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation." He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling 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. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood."
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Reflection:
The story is told about a poor woman who saw Jesus. Having nothing she went to Jesus to beg for alms. But to her surprise Jesus asked him this question: What can you give me instead? The poor woman said to Jesus: “I’m poor I have nothing to give you.” But the poor woman lied because she had some penny in her pocket that he could have given to Jesus.

The poor widow in the gospel is the opposite of the poor woman in our story. For the reason that she gave everything she has she did not lie and she gave from the wellspring of her heart. Assuming that God would respond to both of them: What would God give to the poor woman in our story and to the poor widow in our gospel? 

When we give to God let us give from the wellspring of our hearts no matter how small so long as it is from our hearts. Let us do the same also when we give to our fellowmen especially the poor.

Let us not hold back when we give to the poor because when we give to them we give to Jesus. And whatever we give to the poor comes back to us a hundredfold.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

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