THE MIGHT OF OUR WIDOW’S MITE

 

Homily for the Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke (Schoenstatt Fathers)

Scriptural Texts: 1 Kings 17:10-16; Hebrews 9:24-28; Mark 12:38-44 

 

The readings of this 32^nd Sunday especially the first and the gospel readings invite us to focus attention on the generosity of two widows, and their willingness to give up all that they had for the sake of God.

The readings portray the two widows to be very poor. They were living from hand to mouth. The widow of Zarephath for instance only had a handful of flour in a jar, and a little oil in a jug, which was barely enough for herself and her son (1 Kings 17:12). Yet, she shared the little she had with the prophet Elijah when he asked her for help (1 Kings 17:15). The widow in the gospel reading had only but two small coins to live on, the equivalent of a penny (Mark 12:42). Still, she was willing to deposit it in the coffer. And so, in putting in the two coins into the treasury, she offered all she had to live on. The penny she gave was her last penny. Both widows had very little but they gave a great deal. This shows us that often times, there is not a close relationship between ability and efforts, between what people have and what they offer. Some who have a little can be very generous in their giving while some who have much can be very sparing in their giving.

Today, the generosity of these two widows challenges us. If the two poor widows could give something, then, we too must have something to offer. Nobody is too poor that they have nothing to give. As such, let us do our best with what we have even if what we have at the moment seems very little. Let us bear in mind that it is not only money that we can offer. We can give of our time, ideas, talents, abilities, commitment, and our very self. Let us always give no matter how little because what is tiny in monetary terms may be great on the scale of human generosity.

The teachers of the Law put in a greater amount of money into the treasury but it was the two small coins of the poor widow that caught the attention of Jesus (Mark 12:43). Jesus did not notice the offering of the scribes because their offering was self-serving. They gave in order to be noticed and recognized. God should always be the focus of our generosity and self-giving. The fact that it was the little offering of the widow that was noticed by Jesus shows that the quality of goodness and generosity that is invisible to us is always noticed by the Lord. The Lord knows all your hidden acts of generosity and will surely reward you accordingly. The woman’s small offering was the most valuable gift of all because in offering that small amount, she gave her livelihood, she gave her whole life. She did not just put in the two coins, she offered her very self. We too are called to give not just of our possessions but of our very selves in the same way as Jesus offered himself in the second reading (Hebrews 9:25). God is more interested in the gift of ourselves (who we are) than in the gift of our possessions (what we have).

Also, the generosity of the widows reveals the depth of their surrender, trust and dependence on God. They were poor, and by giving all they had, they were making themselves more vulnerable. It takes an extraordinary trust in God to be able to do what these two women did. They trusted that God would provide and indeed, it was so. Their complete trust in God made them to give without counting the cost, without checking to see what they had left, and without expecting anything in return. In giving, they received so much more than they even gave. It is also in giving that we receive. Lastly, the examples of the two women invite us to give generously from the heart while trusting in the benevolence of God who is always ready to provide for us. May God grant us a generous heart and reward our little deeds of generosity. Amen.