GOSPEL, Mark (12: 38-44)
Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark
Jesus Denounces the Scribes
38 As he taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! 40 They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”
The Widow’s Offering
41 He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. 43 Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. 44 For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
The Gospel of the Lord
REFLECTION
Generous poverty
Jesus contrasts the ostentatious attitudes of the scribes and the sincere simplicity of the humble, where there is no room for vanities. For God only sees the inner attitude of the heart.
The gospel presents two divergent forms of religiosity: that of the professionals of the Mosaic Law and a woman of the people, symbol of the “rest of Israel” and the poor of Yahweh. Jesus offsets and exposes the vanity as well as religious hypocrisy against the humility, sincerity and generosity of the poor widow before God.
Jesus opts for the second approach. Living faith, is expressed in detachment, availability and self-giving to the Lord and to one’s neighbour. Such is religion in spirit and truth, without hypocrisy or formalism.
The widow gave more than anyone else did, “44 For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
God’s criteria, for gestures like these are not measured by their quantity, but by its significance as Jesus, pointedly observes.
The world needs our material help but above all, it needs a genuine donation of our time, warmth, joy and Christian empathy.
Giving oneself to God and to others is the correct way to love and to be Christians, that is, disciples of Jesus.
He preceded us with his example. He came to give us life and made himself poor to enrich us with his poverty. Despite having nothing and nowhere to lay his head, he spent his whole life giving of Himself, healing all infirmities, sight and light, truth and joy, eventually giving himself entirely.
Let us follow here now and always, his testimony to the words at the beginning of each Eucharist – Blessed be God who brought us together in the Love of Christ and acquire its deep meaning… To love as He loved…
PRAYER
We praise you, Father, that Christ, your Son, Showed us a living example of true religion, In the poor and generous widow who gave, what she had.
Give us, Lord, working faith. Teach us the way of detachment and self-giving. Amen.