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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