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.”
— Luke 21:1-4
Today’s Gospel is a beautiful, clear example of what truly matters for Christ: for Him, the amount of the gift doesn’t matter, but only the heart behind it. We are shown two drastically different examples: the wealthy people putting impressive offerings into the treasury, and the poor widow putting in two small coins.
Our worldly eyes might be impressed by the large offerings, and we might naturally think that those who have given the most are those who are doing the most good. And yet, Christ shows us that it’s the complete opposite: the widow is giving more, because she isn’t giving what’s easy for her to offer, but everything she has, making a true sacrifice for The Lord.
How often do we relegate God to a second place in our lives? How often do we follow Him only when it’s convenient? Maybe we even hide behind big, impressive acts of charity, telling ourselves that we’re doing good because we give more than others.
But the amount doesn’t matter. What matters is that you give everything you can, and that you do it out of love of God, not to feel good or to get praise and recognition. To follow Christ it’s not enough to give just the surplus of what we have. No, to truly let Him into our hearts we must give everything to Him. We must surrender our entire lives, die to ourselves and thus let Christ be the One who lives in us.
Take Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess.
Thou hast given all to me. To Thee, O lord, I return it. All is Thine, dispose of it wholly according to Thy will.
Give me Thy love and thy grace, for this is sufficient for me.
— Ignatius Loyola
In Christ,
Juan — Simple Man
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