The Holy Gospel according to Luke (21:1-4)
When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people
putting their offerings into the treasury
and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins.
He said, “I tell you truly,
this poor widow put in more than all the rest;
for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”
Reflection: This story came to life for me about 8 years ago. I witnessed something very similar to this during offertory at the Cathedral (Our Lady of the Angels) and I will never forget it. I saw this woman being pushed in her wheelchair down the aisle towards the offertory basket. By the time she got there she was the last to put her money in, so it was very quiet while everyone waited. Then you could hear three small coins ring as it hit the bottom of the offertory basket. And I immediately thought of this scripture. I will never know this lady name but every time I read this piece of scripture, I think of her and pray for her. This scripture became ALIVE and what she did for God has never been forgotten by me. This pious lady presents herself as the essence of love and devotion, for she followed the first commandment and loved the Lord her God with all her heart, mind, and soul.
Sisters and Brothers, The Holy Father does not measure our self-donation in worldly terms, but he does ask us to offer him our Spiritual wealth. May we have the courage to give everything to the Lord, as did this poor woman in scripture and at the Cathedral. Wasn’t it rash of her to give away everything she owned? Yes, it was rash. But the saints remind us that love is daring, rash, and sometimes even foolish. People who don’t understand this will say, “You can’t choose all, that’s foolish.” God values the sacrifice and heart behind a gift more than the amount of money given.
Happiness is found in our sacrifice. Specifically, it is found in the sacrificial love by which we dedicate everything we are, everything we do, and all that we have for the sole purpose of the glory of God and to the furtherment of His Kingdom. Sadly, when one is rich in the things of this world, it is easy to think that offering a portion of their wealth means that they can keep and use the rest any way they want. But that’s not true. Giving of ourselves completely to God and to His service does not necessarily mean that we donate all of our money to the Church. But it does mean that we offer everything to God. For many, when this complete offering is done every day, God will lead them to use their material resources for the raising of their family, to take care of their basic needs, and, at times, to even enjoy various comforts in life. But the real question is whether or not you truly live as though all you have and all you are God’s and is to be used for His glory and the furtherment of His will. Are you willing to share your whole livelihood?
Action of the Day: Thanksgiving is this week, what is it that you are Thankful for and how are you going to pay it forward?
Audio Reflection:
