A Few Cents

(32nd Sunday, B)

In the readings today we meet two widows, both poor and yet both very blessed. The widow of Zarephath trusts in the prophet Elijah and comes to be supported miraculously. The widow in the gospel, who donates a few cents to the Temple, is praised by the Lord himself, who says that “she put in more than all the other contributors.”

The first thing to note here is that to be a widow in these cultures was a very precarious thing indeed. Without a husband for support and protection, a widow could find herself in a very vulnerable place, especially if she didn’t have other family with the means to support her. So both of these women, to one degree or another, are probably living in a way that is unstable and perilous.

Second, in the case of the widow in the gospel, her donation of a few cents is contrasted with the way of life of the scribes. They are presented as being religious in a way that was all about getting rather than giving. Getting honor, respect, and of course, money. And as we know, brothers and sisters, this disease of trying to use religion to satisfy one’s own acquisitiveness can still infect religious authorities even in our own time.  

The widow in the gospel, with her few cents “put in more than all of the other contributors.” Wow. Notice how God judges generosity; not from how much is given but how much in relation to what we have. Like the widow in the first reading who prepares a meal for the prophet Elijah with the last of what she has, the widow in the gospel gives from her need rather than from a surplus. In both cases this represents a trust in God; he will take care of the generous giver as indeed he does with the widow of Zarephath whose pantry comes to be miraculously filled.

Notice also, brothers and sisters, that this principle, this good news of the gospel, goes to a level deeper than money, more profound than material contributions. We are called to give from our need, from our neediness. And where are we needy? In our hearts, where we are all struggling with something; sin, sadness, anxiety, doubt, depression, whatever. It is from there that the gospel calls us to give, finding the courage and trust before God to open our hearts to him and to our neighbor and giving of ourselves. And if we are only able to do this a little but, it may be a lot in the eyes of God, like the few cents of the woman in the gospel.

Therefore, we never know how generous someone is in the eyes of God. So we must never judge or compare! For example, if someone is struggling in sin or with some mental or physical illness but still manages some acts of charity and love of neighbor, this may be a much greater contribution in the eyes of God than the seemingly more impressive service of someone who healthy, strong, or rich.

So, brothers and sisters, let us always refrain from judgement or comparison but instead concentrate on ourselves, asking from God the trust in him that will allow us to open our hearts to a generous kindness expressed to one another.