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:
There is a story of a poor woman who was
always ready to give anything that she has for the sake of those who are in
need. Because of her generosity there were instances that her children would
gently remind her not to overly give and reserve something for them.
But the kindhearted woman would tell her
children that it is always in giving that they would receive unfathomable
blessings from God. True enough, there were no instance wherein they were in
need of anything.
Even if they were poor, they always have
something for themselves. Why? because God takes care of those who are
generous. Very much like the poor widow in our first reading. She generously
gave water and bread to the prophet Elijah. After which the good Lord provided for her and her
son.
Many of us may not know this, but the poor are
the most generous people in the world. They give from the pureness of
their hearts no matter how small. They don’t
give because they are not in need. They give for the simple reason that they
are simply generous.
Compare this with many rich people who give from
their excess. For example, the billionaires and millionaires who give millions
to their favorite charities. Perhaps, most of them give because the money that
they would give would never hurt their pockets anymore. They have already
earmarked that money for charity.
True generosity is epitomized by the poor
widow in the gospel. For she gave whatever little money that she has and she
gave even if she herself needs it. She could have bought food with the two
small coins to satisfy her hunger. But it never came to her thought, she simply
gave from the goodness of her heart.
What is paramount for the poor widow is to
give without any strings attached. Jesus consequently favored the poor widow
because He saw the pureness of her intentions and the pureness of her
generosity.
How do you give to your church? How do you
give to the poor and to those who are need? Do you give generously as well like
the poor widow in the gospel or you give because that is your excess already? –
Marino J. Dasmarinas
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