Thoughts for the Day

Jesus looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

This little account of the widow's gift appears in both Luke and Matthew's Gospels, and it reminded me of the old custom of tithing a tenth of one's income to the Church. This occurred right across Europe at one time. Money, or its equivalent in crops or farm stock was used to support the clergy, maintain churches, and assist the poor. Indeed the building of many of our cathedrals in Europe was subsidised by tithing.

Giving in this way dates back to Old Testament times when widows were sometimes left with no family to support them. A widow with no sons would be in this situation, for any daughters would move on their marriage to the home of their husband's family. The Hebrew scriptures made allowance for this. Leviticus 23.22 instructs farmers "When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest; you shall leave them for the poor."

In today's passage from scripture Jesus notes that the widow puts in all that she has - two small copper coins. Others were giving generously out of their wealth. It was no hardship to them to give, and Jesus says they give "out of their abundance", whereas the widow gives "out of her poverty". For her, giving is a real sacrifice.

As we approach this Advent (the new Church Year) can we rethink our regular giving to our church, making sure we give even when we cannot attend worship (ie through the bank) and ensure we gift-aid the money to claim tax back where appropriate. As 2 Corinthians 9.7 says: Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Heavenly Father,
we thank You for all the gifts You give to us,
not least the gift of Your Son, Jesus,
who laid down His life for us.
May we, in our turn, be generous to others,
and especially to Your Church,
that in its mission and ministry it may thrive
to spread the news of the Gospel.
Amen.