DAILY GOSPEL COMMENTARY:
THE WIDOW’S MITE
(Mk 12:38-44).
Gospel of Saturday, 9th week of Ordinary Time.
(Mk 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.”
GOSPEL COMMENTARY FROM THE NAVARRE BIBLE, COMMENTARY TO THE GOSPEL OF ST. MARK (WITH PERMISSION).
- 38-40 Our Lord reproves disordered desire for human honours:
- “We should notice that salutations in the marketplace are not forbidden, nor people taking the best seats if that befits their position; rather, the faithful are warned to avoid, as they would evil men, those who set too much store by such honours” (St Bede, In Marci Evangelium expositio, in loc.). See also notes on Mt 23:2-3, 5, 11 and 14.
- 41-44 Our Lord uses this little event to teach us the importance of things which apparently are insignificant. He puts it somewhat paradoxically; the poor widow has contributed more than all the rich.
- In God’s sight the value of such an action lies more in upright intention and generosity of spirit than in the quantity one gives.
- “Didn’t you see the light in Jesus’ eyes as the poor widow left her little alms in the temple? Give him what you can: the merit is not in whether it is big or small, but in the intention with which you give it” (J. Escrivá, The Way, 829).
- By the same token, our actions are pleasing to God even if they are not as perfect as we would like.
- St Francis de Sales comments: “Now as amongst the treasures of the temple, the poor widow’s mite was much esteemed, so the least little good works, even though performed somewhat coldly and not according to the whole extent of the charity which is in us, are agreeable to God, and esteemed by him; in such sort that though of themselves they cannot cause any increase in the existing love. . . yet divine Providence, counting on them and, out of his goodness, valuing them, forthwith rewards them with increase of charity for the present, and assigns to them a greater heavenly glory for the future” (St Francis de Sales, Treatise on the love of God, book 3, chap. 2).
- In God’s sight the value of such an action lies more in upright intention and generosity of spirit than in the quantity one gives.
VIDEO REFLECTION
TOPIC: DO YOU GIVE GIFTS WITH STRINGS ATTACHED?
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus continues to challenge the religious authorities in their wrong beliefs. This time, it is the scribes – the lawyers during Jesus’ time – who He points out pay lip service to their religious beliefs. They are hypocrites.In contrast, the poor widow gives generously all that she had, trusting in God for her daily sustenance.
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