Gospel: Luke 21:1-4
He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.
Jesus, in our Gospel, favored the generosity of the poor widow because her offering came from the depths of her heart. There were no strings attached to her giving; it did not come from her excess. She gave whatever little she had because she trusted completely in God’s providence.
This Gospel also invites us to examine ourselves—not only when we give to our church, but whenever we give to anyone who is in need. It also calls us to reflect on our motive for giving: Do we give out of love, compassion, and faith, or do we give out of habit, convenience, or recognition?
The ideal form of giving is to give from the heart. The amount we give is immaterial; what matters is that our offering springs from genuine love for God and neighbor. In the Gospel, it was not only the poor widow who gave—many wealthy individuals also offered gifts. Yet Jesus was more pleased with the offering of the widow because her giving was pure, sincere, and free from any form of ulterior motive.
Whatever we give from the heart comes back to us a hundredfold—not necessarily in material blessings, but in spiritual richness, inner peace, and a deeper experience of God’s loving presence. In Luke chapter six, verse thirty-eight (6:38), Jesus tells us: “Give and it will be given to you, and you will receive in your sack good measure, pressed down, full and running over. For the measure you give will be the measure you receive back.”
As we continue our journey of faith, may we learn to give not from our surplus, but from our love. May we offer not only what is easy to give, but what truly reflects our gratitude, humility, and trust in God.
So today, as God looks gently into our hearts, what kind of giver does He see in us? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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