Thoughts for the Day

Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, 'Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.'

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Jesus is in the Temple in Jerusalem. He sits down to rest and notices the wealthy lining up with pride to make large offerings to the temple treasury. But the widow is poor, probably because she has no husband to care for her, and offers only two small copper coins, which would seem to be about 1% of a working man's daily wage. The difference is that she offers out of her poverty, all that she has. She could have kept one coin for herself, but no, she gives all that she has to God's work.

This story appears in both Mark and Luke's Gospels, and we still use the phrase "widow's mite" today. It's only a tiny story, but like others in the New Testament it has a large meaning. Jesus notices how we give. He looks at our heart and examines our motives. When we give sacrificially, as with the widow, God is pleased.

During the last year many Christians have given generously to help charities, whether it was food-banks or medical charities. It has been a joy to see and hear about such generosity, but many of our churches also desperately need help. Their bills have not lessened (our parish share to the Diocese is around £14,000 a year!), but their income has diminished to almost nothing. Perhaps I, as an "unpaid active-retired priest", can encourage you to give sacrificially to your local church, preferably regularly through your bank. After a year in lock-down many Churches are really struggling financially. And may God bless you for this!

Lord Jesus,
as You watched the widow give her mite,
and noted her complete generosity,
may we give as much as we can
to our local church
to enable the work of Your kingdom,
to continue to grow.
Amen.