God’s Living Word Today - Saturday, June 6, 2020

God’s Living Word Today - Saturday, June 6, 2020

[2 Tim 4:1-8 and Mark 12:38-44]
[Jesus] 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." [Mark] 

 The central character in the Gospel is the poor widow who comes to pay her temple tax reminding us perhaps of Mother Teresa, a great servant of the poor, of the Church and of the whole world. Her life is a testimony to the dignity and the privilege of humble service. She had chosen to be not just the least but to be the servant of the least. As a real mother to the poor, she bent down to those suffering various forms of poverty. Her greatness lies in her ability to give without counting the cost, to give "until it hurts". Her life was a radical living and a bold proclamation of the Gospel.

An interpretation would emphasize the radical generosity of the widow and note that Jesus' own generosity in sacrificing his life is being foretold here by Jesus. How does the widow in the Gospel and the example of Mother Teresa challenge our own willingness to give and share?  Does our generosity come from our "surplus" or from our "poverty?"  What impacts our generosity toward the poor and vulnerable, or even to our local church?  The Gospel scene can give rise to much that we need to think about. Mother Theresa said ‘give love until it hurts with a smile.’

Father Dennis