The Lesson of the Widow’s Mite or the Widow’s Offering
Fr. Hugh Gillespie, SMM
The Lesson of the Widow’s Mite or . . .
In the Gospel reading, Jesus teaches and speaks in the Temple shortly before His Passion. The focal point of the Gospel story is the widow’s mite or offering. Despite contributing only two small coins, the widow’s gift surpasses that of everyone else.
During the Homily, we also learn about the first reading from the Book of Tobit, which is not included in the audio. Tobit, a charitable and devout man who lived in the early 700s B.C., dedicated himself to serving God (further details are explained within the Homily). The story emphasizes that while prayer and fasting are commendable, alms giving is even more significant. The Homily provides a deeper context for this statement.
The Tobit story holds a lesson for us, one that extends beyond the mere quantity of our charitable contributions on any given day. The book teaches us multiple lessons, including the importance of God’s mercy towards us and our responsibility to show mercy and charity to those who are less fortunate. Another lesson is the transformative power of charity. The Homily delves into further discussions on these lessons.
. . . the Widow’s Offering
The Gospel story carries a poignant message. It portrays religious leaders who are preoccupied with their reputation, dressing in long robes and seeking recognition and honor at banquets. They desire to be noticed and appreciated by others. However, the Lord cautions against such behavior. While observing people’s contributions to the Temple, the Lord focuses on an important moment. Wealthy individuals come forward and give substantial amounts, but then a widow steps forward. Despite being vulnerable and having limited resources, she, who should be the recipient of charity, offers her own contribution to the Lord. She is aware of others giving large sums, but this doesn’t discourage her. She believes she has something to give and proceeds to do so, regardless of what others contribute.
What lesson does Jesus impart to His disciples? Find out more within the Mediation Media.
The Widow’s Mite : French Painter: James Tissot: 1886
Editor’s note: At the beginning of the Homily, there is an audible sound of high winds in the recording. Please bear with us and focus on the words while discounting the wind noise. Thank you.
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The Lesson of the Widow’s Mite or the Widow’s Offering
