and who like to occupy reserved seats in the synagogues and the first places at feasts.
They even devour the widow’s and the orphan’s goods while making a show of long
prayers. How severe a sentence they will receive!” Jesus sat down opposite the Temple
treasury and watched the people dropping money into the treasury box; and many rich
people put in large offerings. But a poor widow also came and dropped in two small coins.
Then Jesus called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put
in more than all those who gave offerings. For all of them gave from their plenty, but she
gave from her poverty and put in everything she had, her very living.”
READ: While teaching, Jesus gave his warning about the teachers of the law. The teachers
of the law would always want recognition. While pretending to be prayerful, they would devour
the houses of the widows. Jesus also warned the teachers of the law themselves of the
judgment they would receive. Afterwards, Jesus sat down opposite the temple treasury while
watching the people as they dropped money in the treasury box. Many rich people put in
large amounts but the poor widow put in two small coins. Jesus called his disciples and told
them that the poor widow dropped into the treasury more than all those who put in large
offerings. Others gave from surplus. The poor widow put in everything she had.
REFLECT: Generosity is when we give something as an expression of what is good in us.
Hence, it is always other-oriented. It is not self-focused. If we give something out of surplus
because we simply want to feel good about the thought of being good, then it is not generosity
at all. What the poor widow did, giving everything she had, is the exact opposite of what the
religious leaders and rich people were doing in the time of Jesus. One can exploit the poor
and give away their surplus in order to feel good. Such is unchristian.
PRAY: Let us pray that God will grant us the grace that we may become more generous.
ACT: Let us share something to a poor person that is not merely out of our surplus but out
of our generosity.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2024
