Today’s Gospel:  Luke 21:1-4

REFLECTION
In the second court of the Jerusalem temple, in the court of the women, were fixed 13 chests, with inscriptions directing to what use the offerings in each were allotted. Into one of these the widow of today’s Gospel cast her two mites. These offerings were made at the three great feasts, to compound for tithes and dues, and to fulfil the command, ‘Thou shalt not appear empty before the Lord’” (Exodus 23:15; Deuteronomy 16:16). Furthermore, attached to these chests were chutes or devises into which the offerings were placed. These were fashioned in the shape of a trumpet; the narrow end was joined to the chest and the larger end with its open mouth pointed in the direction of worshippers. Something of the sort may be seen at American toll bridges, where automobile drivers, without leaving their cars, may throw their toll money into the chute which leads down into the chest, and from which the “go-ahead” signal is controlled. These containers in the temple were sometimes called “the Trumpets,” the name being derived from the shape of the receptacles.

After His altercations with the Sadducees and scribes, the Lord was weary, and sitting at the court of the Temple, saw the rich men casting gifts into the money chests. Then He became aware of the approach of a widow woman. Slowly she went to the nearest box and dropped two “lepta” - two small copper coins called “mites,” into the opening. Then quietly, she went away. The coins were the smallest in use at that time and represented a very meager sum of money. In modern currency this would be worth about six pesos.

When the Lord declared she had cast in more than all the other donors, He indicated that the gifts to God are assessed not by their monetary worth but by the sacrifice made by the worshipper. There are two Greek words which are very much alike. “Hustereesis” means “want or poverty;” “Hustereema” means “deficiency” or “that which is lacking.” It is the second word that is used in this account. Jesus said, “... she of her deficiency, hath cast in all the living she had.” This means the poor woman did not have enough money to buy food for the day’s meal. She was probably living “a hand to mouth” existence, gleaning a little here and there, and striving always to earn a few coins to purchase supplies. At the time of her gift, she probably had to choose between food for her body or satisfaction for her soul. She needed sustenance but she wanted peace. It was not difficult to make a choice; she took all she had and gladly gave it to the Lord. And the Savior saw her, and loved her. We do not even begin to give to God, or to anyone else, unless the act of giving means sacrifice. Unless first of all we have to do without something we really want, then our gift is not a true gift.

Readers might like to consider the following observations: (1) JESUS SAW. That widow woman might have had the shock of her life had she known she was being watched. She might have been ashamed for anyone to know how small her gift had been. She knew God would understand, but had no confidence others would. Perhaps she looked around to see if other people were busy elsewhere, and thinking no one was watching, made her contribution. But Jesus saw the sacrifice - He always does. (2) JESUS KNEW. Maybe this suggests a problem. How did He know the value of the coins; how did He understand that she was giving everything she possessed? We answer with another question - Is there anything He does not know? (3) JESUS ASSESSED. “This poor widow has cast in more than they all.” The financiers would have disputed His findings; the wealthy Pharisees would have argued fiercely that He was mistaken, nevertheless God has His own computers; He measures gifts by sacrifice, and sometimes the results are astonishing. (4) JESUS APPRECIATED. The Lord was never slow to recognize true worth, and since “... the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him,” there is reason to believe that later that day, somehow, somewhere, the Lord gave to her the best meal she had received all that week. (See 2 Chronicles 16:9.)

Today’s Reading:  Revelation 14:1-3, 4-5

PRAYER
Lord, we can never match your generosity, but whatever we have, we offer to you.  In Jesus’ Name we pray.  Amen.