Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.” Mk 12:43

Check Your Proportion

The attitudes of our mind determine our actions; hence we need to be very careful about them, for they make us what we truly are: generous or selfish, sharing or hoarding, being pleasing to God or despised by Him. Here in this passage Jesus applauded a widow who dropped in two copper coins, against the rich who dropped much into the receptacle because He saw both her faith and generosity that compelled this action of compassion: “Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.’” (Mk 12:43) Jesus explains the reason for the applause, that is the proportion of her giving: “They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” (Mk 12:44) An episode in the life of Elijah records a similar giving, where the widow of Zaraphat was willing to sacrifice all that she had: “‘As surely as the Lord your God lives,’ she replied, ‘I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.’” (1 Kings 17:12) After giving what she had to Elijah, she got the reward of God’s abundance and care. The Gospel narrates the parable of the rich fool, who had no thought for others, and was punished for his undue selfishness and unwillingness to share: “And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’” (Lk 12: 19-20) Let’s pray that God may bless us with the attitude that is generous and willing to share with those in need, as He Himself shares with us His benevolence and abundance.

 

Abba, Thank You for setting before us the generous attitude of the widow as an example. Let Your Spirit increase the faith in us that shares and rejoices, In Jesus’ Most Generous Name, Amen.