Reflection for June 6 Saturday of the 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 of a poor woman who was always ready to give whatever she had for the sake of those in need. Because of her generosity, there were times when her children would gently remind her not to give away too much and to reserve something for themselves.

But the kindhearted woman would always tell her children that it is in giving that we receive unfathomable blessings from God. True enough, there was never a time when they lacked anything they truly needed.

Even though they were poor, they always had enough for themselves. Why? Because God takes care of those who are generous. He never abandons those who trust in His providence and lovingly share what they have with others.

Many of us may not realize this, but some of the most generous people in the world are the poor. They give from the purity of their hearts, no matter how little they have. They do not give because they have no needs of their own. Rather, they give for the simple reason that they are generous. Their lives remind us that true generosity is not measured by the amount we give but by the love and sacrifice with which we give.

Compare this with many wealthy people who give from their abundance. For example, billionaires and millionaires may donate millions to their favorite charities. While such generosity can certainly do much good, the reality is that these donations often come from resources that have already been set aside for charitable purposes and may not significantly affect their way of life.

True generosity is epitomized by the poor widow in the Gospel. She gave the little money she had, even though she needed it herself. She could have used the two small coins to buy food and satisfy her hunger. Yet that thought did not deter her. She simply gave from the goodness of her heart.

What mattered most to the poor widow was her willingness to give without any strings attached. She did not calculate what she would lose; instead, she trusted God with what remained. Jesus praised her because He saw the purity of her intentions and the sincerity of her generosity. While others gave from their surplus, she gave from her poverty. In the eyes of the world, her gift seemed insignificant, but in the eyes of God, it was priceless.

As we reflect on the example of this poor widow, we are invited to examine the generosity of our own hearts. Do we give only when it is convenient, or are we willing to give even when it requires sacrifice? Do we trust God enough to share our time, talents, resources, and love with those in need? The Lord does not measure our gifts by their size but by the faith, love, and selflessness behind them.

Today, may we ask God for hearts that are free from selfishness and filled with compassion. May we learn to give not merely from our abundance but from a spirit of trust and gratitude, knowing that everything we have comes from Him and ultimately belongs to Him.

When God looks into our hearts, will He find in us the same selfless generosity and unwavering trust that He found in the poor widow, or are there still gifts of love, mercy, and sacrifice that He is calling us to offer today?– Marino J. Dasmarinas