Reflection for Sunday November 10, Thirty-second Sunday 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 of a poor woman who saw Jesus. Having nothing, she went to Jesus to beg for alms. But to her surprise, Jesus asked her this question: “What can you give me instead?” The poor woman replied to Jesus, “I’m poor; I have nothing to give you.” However, the poor woman wasn’t entirely truthful because she did have a small coin in her pocket that she could have offered to Jesus.

The poor widow in the gospel is the opposite of the poor woman in our story. She gave everything she had, did not lie, and gave from the wellspring of her heart. The rule in giving is to always give from the heart; the amount or quantity doesn’t matter. What is important is that we give sincerely. What is the use of giving if what we give is merely from our surplus?

When we give to God, let us give from the heart, no matter how small, as long as it is sincere. Let us do the same when we give to our fellowmen, especially the poor. Let us not give only from our surplus, for this act of giving is not pleasing to God.

Whatever we give will surely come back to us, not just a hundredfold but a thousandfold. – Marino J. Dasmarinas