Giving Our Whole Selves
Mark 12:38-44
Jesus arrives in Jerusalem and goes to the temple where those in charge confront him. He remains there at that place of worship and begins to teach. After a while, he takes a seat and begins to watch the people. From his vantage point, he watches the people coming and going as they make their donations to the temple and the various worthy causes for which the temple authorities used the money. Mark tells us that Jesus watches on as several rich people come and put large donations into the offering plate. They are doing their fair share to support the temple and the good work that it does. Any pastor or church would be glad to have such people - people who do their fair share - in the congregation she serves. It would guarantee that the budget was covered and the needs met with money left over.
Today's reading, though, begins with a warning about the hypocrisy and arrogance of those who parade their long robes and seek places of honor because of their wealth. As Jesus sits and watches the coming and going of people, he sees the hypocrisy and arrogance of the wealthy bringing their gifts to the temple. Jesus seems to question the commitment connected to these gifts. What do these gifts communicate? Are they reflective of whole hearted giving or simply an indicator of the giver’s prosperity?
As Jesus watches this scene, a widow comes and places two small coins in the offering plate. This gift is of a completely different nature and stands out in our reading. This woman dresses simply while the long robes of those around her flow beautifully in the wind. She would never be seated in the place of honor in their banquets. She gives two coins of the smallest unit of money in circulation. They were all she had. She gives them both with no resources to secure more.
Jesus continues with his teaching, "The rich contribute out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on" (12:44). Jesus points to her example as a display of whole hearted giving because her gift results in total and complete dependence on God. The gifts of the rich were certainly substantial and allowed a lot of good things to be done. Jesus doesn't condemn the giving of these large gifts. He just points out that for them, their abundance remains, they are still comfortable. The widow on the other hand has nothing left except her faith and trust in God. It is this same faith and complete trust in God that guides her to the offering plate as she places all of her wealth in the plate. For this act of faith, she unknowingly receives a blessing.
Reflection Questions:
Since the Holy Scriptures are written for the Church, of which we are a part, what does Jesus’ praise of this woman inspire in us?
How can we imitate her trust and dependence on God?
What can we give to God?