The Widow who gave it all

The Gospels for this week presented Jesus at odds with the mindset of the Pharisees and Sadducees about arrays of religious, moral, political, and existential issues surrounding Pharisaic Judaism.

Last Tuesday, Jesus showed the people that there is greater reality than taxation, politics, and currencies. (Mark 12: 13-17)

Last Wednesday, Jesus lectured the people that marriage belongs to human language, an institution that safeguards the human need for compatibility, companionship, and family. He tells them that in heaven, there is no more marriage because the Divine life is in itself the fullness of love. (Mark 12: 18-27) Marriage is a very vital topic for the Jews.

Last Thursday, Jesus tells the people that the Shema Israel is the greatest commandment and adds the love for neighbor. (Mark 12: 28b-34) The Shema Israel is an important phrase for the Jews. Jesus offers them new and fresh understanding.

Yesterday, Jesus tells them that David calls the Messiah as the Son of God. People were delighted but surely, this claim will not seat well with the elders of the Law because this is a blasphemous statement for them. This will be one of the grounds upon which Jesus will be put to trial and death. (Mk 12:35-37)

Today, Jesus gives a glaring criticism to the Scribes by making strong comments on their ways of living. (Mark 12: 38-44) This will further anger the elders and leaders of the Law.

His point was, all these vestments, parades, VIP treatments to religious leaders are nonsense. They are left without meaning as they remain external fun fare and not an expression or consciousness of something more meaningful. There are mere external things and not outward signs.

Jesus uses the widow to demonstrate this point.

Widows in the Society of first century Palestinian Judaism are regarded as people whose lives are meaningless. Once the husbands die, they become dependents to alms. Once they suffer the loss of their husbands they also lose the protection and support of the patriarchal society. They become beggars.

Yet, in the Gospel today, a Widow gives it all for the maintenance of the Temple, the support for the Pharisees, and the charity works of the temple. We see here someone who gives it all to a cause she believes in in contrast to the rich people’s donation from out of their abundance to a cause they believe they are benefactors of. The Widow gave freely what she lacked of and this is what makes her great in the eyes of Jesus.

Spiritual life is not a matter of how much we give but how we give what we give. It is not about amounts but attitudes. It is not about money but the heart willing to give it all.

She gave it all that she possesses because her security and source of joy do not lie in material things but in generosity and self-giving.

How about you?

What do you lack right now?

Are you willing to let it go?

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READINGS

FIRST READING Tb 12:1, 5-15, 20

Tobit called his son Tobiah and said to him, “Son, see to it that you give what is due to the man who made the journey with you; give him a bonus too.” So he called Raphael and said, “Take as your wages half of all that you have brought back, and go in peace.” Raphael called the two men aside privately and said to them: “Thank God! Give him the praise and the glory. Before all the living, acknowledge the many good things he has done for you, by blessing and extolling his name in song. Honor and proclaim God’s deeds, and do not be slack in praising him. A king’s secret it is prudent to keep, but the works of God are to be declared and made known. Praise them with due honor. Do good, and evil will not find its way to you. Prayer and fasting are good, but better than either is almsgiving accompanied by righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than abundance with wickedness. It is better to give alms than to store up gold; for almsgiving saves one from death and expiates every sin. Those who regularly give alms shall enjoy a full life; but those habitually guilty of sin are their own worst enemies. “I will now tell you the whole truth; I will conceal nothing at all from you. I have already said to you, ‘A king’s secret it is prudent to keep, but the works of God are to be made known with due honor.’ I can now tell you that when you, Tobit, and Sarah prayed, it was I who presented and read the record of your prayer before the Glory of the Lord; and I did the same thing when you used to bury the dead. When you did not hesitate to get up and leave your dinner in order to go and bury the dead, I was sent to put you to the test. At the same time, however, God commissioned me to heal you and your daughter-in-law Sarah. I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who enter and serve before the Glory of the Lord.” “So now get up from the ground and praise God. Behold, I am about to ascend to him who sent me; write down all these things that have happened to you.”

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Tobit 13:2, 6efgh, 7, 8

R. (1b) Blessed be God, who lives for ever.

He scourges and then has mercy; he casts down to the depths of the nether world, and he brings up from the great abyss. No one can escape his hand. R. Blessed be God, who lives for ever. So now consider what he has done for you, and praise him with full voice. Bless the Lord of righteousness, and exalt the King of ages. R. Blessed be God, who lives for ever. In the land of my exile I praise him and show his power and majesty to a sinful nation. R. Blessed be God, who lives for ever. Bless the Lord, all you his chosen ones, and may all of you praise his majesty. Celebrate days of gladness, and give him praise. R. Blessed be God, who lives for ever.

GOSPEL 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.”