Mk 12:38-44
As he was teaching, Jesus said to them, “Beware of those teachers of the Law, who enjoy walking around in long robes and being greeted in the marketplace, 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.”
REFLECTION
“It is the quality of our work which will please God and not the quantity.” (Gandhi) The poor widow was praised for her qualitatively and generously little offering more than any of the worshippers who gave quantitatively. God looks more into the inward disposition more than the external. It’s not the number of years lived that counts much, but the kind of life. It would have been better to live up to exemplary hundred years which doesn’t always happen, because the good dies young and hierba mala nunca muere (Bad grass never dies).
God is never outdone in his generosity. “The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry.” (1 K 17:14) “The stingy are eager to get rich and are unaware that poverty awaits them.” (Pro 28:22)
“Soren Kierkegaard tells the story of “The Man Who Walked Backwards.” When a man walks away from someone and finds a method of turning his face towards the one he is walking away, he gets farther and farther away by walking backwards. Such a man is rich in good intentions, but retreats backwards farther and farther from the intentions. It’s not qualitative living.
CLARETIAN COMMUNICATIONS FOUNDATION, INC.
8 Mayumi Street, U.P. Village, Diliman, 1101 Quezon City, Philippines
Tel.: (02) 921-3984 • 922-00-11 • 921-28-59 Fax: (02) 921-6205, 927-7429
Bookstore: (02) 924-6835
Email: ccfi@claretianpublications.com / cci@claret.org
Website: www.claretianpublications.com