A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 21:1-4

When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. He said, "I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood."

REFLECTION:

The poor widow in today’s Gospel generously gave what she had in front of the best witness, our beloved Lord Jesus. She was not aware that he was there.

I imagine how pleased Jesus was with this action, how much compassion he felt towards her. Because of her generous heart I am sure that she received a great number of blessings. What she had done without showing off, Jesus had seen. She did it from the pureness of her heart and Jesus, knowing her soul and her state of life, praised her for this .

I see around me people who are very generous, not only with their money, but with their time, love, care, and talents. I see them smiling when they are in physical pain. I hear them asking others how they are doing without mentioning their own problems. They make kind comments about others, and justify them instead of judging them. They pray for others, offering their own pain and sufferings for them.

They invest the time that they do not have on talking about the Lord, on teaching life skills, and performing venial tasks -way below their capabilities- but they made someone feel loved.

Nobody seems to notice them, but just like the poor widow in today’s Gospel they have the best witness, our beloved Lord Jesus, our merciful judge.

“I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.” Mother Theresa of Calcutta.

Virgin most merciful, Pray for us!

St Theresa of Calcutta, Pray for us!