Sunday Reflections

First Reading:            1 Kings 17:10-16
Second Reading:       Hebrews 9:24-28
Gospel:                      Mark 12.38-44 – The Widow’s Offering

Offering our All

In the Gospel this Sunday we hear the account of the poor widow’s treasury offering. Jesus observes many wealthy people put in large sums of money, yet He only praises the lowly widow
for her contribution of two small copper coins. He exclaims, “truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had.” (Mark 12:43).

We can learn a great lesson in stewardship through the example of this widow who symbolically offered her entire life through her small monetary offering. We too are called to give our entire
lives to God. We shouldn’t imitate the wealthy people in the Gospel and give from what we have leftover. Rather, we should give the “first fruits” of our time and our talents because we want to show God how grateful we are for all He has given us.

Additionally, by giving everything she had, the widow is inherently saying “God I trust that you will take care of me.” As stewards, do our sacrifices show that we trust God? To trust God means knowing that even though our time spent in the parish might mean we have less time for work or other commitments, that God will still bless us abundantly. Let us strive to give all we can and trust that God will take care of all our needs, for St. Paul says, “God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Summary

We can learn a great lesson in stewardship from the widow who put in all she had, two small copper coins, into the treasury. We shouldn’t imitate the wealthy people in the Gospel and give
from what we have leftover. Rather, we should give the “first fruits” of our time and our talents because we want to show God how grateful we are for all He has given us.

https://www.archtoronto.org/stewardship