The Widow’s Mite
JESUS MAFA. The Widow's Mite, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=57531 [retrieved November 5, 2021]. Original source: http://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr (contact page: https://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr/contact).
His Widow Complex
…[Jesus] was sitting
that morning
in the temple
looking at the treasury-box
in which all kinds of people
were throwing their money
from rattling
and loud clanking bags.
And then
in that row of rich people
very politely and submissively
greeting by the temple---askaris,
...and all the others
…
there is again
that widow
with her two five-cent pieces
carefully knotted
in her handkerchief.
She stepped in front of the box
unknotting her coins;
the others were getting impatient
already,
and she dropped her
two five-cent pieces,
and was pushed on immediately.
Jesus stood up,
his disciples too,
and he said
to their astonishment;
“...She gave all she had,
Everything;
she gave more than anyone else.’
…
...if our baptism in him
means anything to us,
then our lives too
should integrate
the example
of [the widow]
who gave all [she] had
in view of God….
When he took his bread
That last evening
Of his life,
When he took his cup
and said;
“This is my body,
this is my blood,”
he must have been thinking
of...thad widow
...in the temple.
Joseph G. Donders
…[Jesus] was sitting
that morning
in the temple
looking at the treasury-box
in which all kinds of people
were throwing their money
from rattling
and loud clanking bags.
And then
in that row of rich people
very politely and submissively
greeting by the temple---askaris,
...and all the others
…
there is again
that widow
with her two five-cent pieces
carefully knotted
in her handkerchief.
She stepped in front of the box
unknotting her coins;
the others were getting impatient
already,
and she dropped her
two five-cent pieces,
and was pushed on immediately.
Jesus stood up,
his disciples too,
and he said
to their astonishment;
“...She gave all she had,
Everything;
she gave more than anyone else.’
…
...if our baptism in him
means anything to us,
then our lives too
should integrate
the example
of [the widow]
who gave all [she] had
in view of God….
When he took his bread
That last evening
Of his life,
When he took his cup
and said;
“This is my body,
this is my blood,”
he must have been thinking
of...thad widow
...in the temple.
Joseph G. Donders
Spiritual Practices: Breath Prayer
Overview
There is an interesting connection between these two stories. In verses 38-40, Jesus is telling his followers to beware of the scribes. The scribes were well known and easily recognized in Israel. They were looked up to and considered to be important people. The problem was that they knew this. Jesus specifically calls out some of their behavior. They liked to be recognized, they liked to be esteemed, the liked to be given places of honor at feasts or in the synagogues. They liked showing off. They didn't care for the poor and the widows.
Immediately after this, Mark tells the story about Jesus sitting in the temple watching people bring their monetary offerings in. Some people brought in large offerings and attracted lots of attention. The one that caught Jesus' attention though was a poor widow who brought in a very small offering. The status and false piety of the scribes and the rich people bringing in their offerings did not impress Jesus at all. He was encouraging his followers to avoid their example and remain humble instead. That is what this breath prayer is about.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, help me to be humble.
Overview
There is an interesting connection between these two stories. In verses 38-40, Jesus is telling his followers to beware of the scribes. The scribes were well known and easily recognized in Israel. They were looked up to and considered to be important people. The problem was that they knew this. Jesus specifically calls out some of their behavior. They liked to be recognized, they liked to be esteemed, the liked to be given places of honor at feasts or in the synagogues. They liked showing off. They didn't care for the poor and the widows.
Immediately after this, Mark tells the story about Jesus sitting in the temple watching people bring their monetary offerings in. Some people brought in large offerings and attracted lots of attention. The one that caught Jesus' attention though was a poor widow who brought in a very small offering. The status and false piety of the scribes and the rich people bringing in their offerings did not impress Jesus at all. He was encouraging his followers to avoid their example and remain humble instead. That is what this breath prayer is about.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, help me to be humble.
Exploring the Text: The value of the widow's offering
As Jesus is watching people give their offerings in the temple, he sees several rich people come and give large offerings. They were doing this in view of the crowds so that they could be seen and recognized for their piety. The one that caught Jesus' attention, however, was a poor widow woman who gave to give her offering as well. While the rich poured in bags of money, she gave two small coins. In today's economy her offering was worth probably less than two dollars. Yet she is the one that Jesus recognized and pointed out to his followers.
What drew Jesus' attention was not the size of her offering, it was her willingness to give what she had. Sometimes we don't think that we have much to offer that Jesus can use. We see the gifts, talents, abilities, or resources that other people have and we feel like there is no way that we can complete with that; there is no way that Jesus can take and use the little that we have to offer him. Jesus isn't impressed with the things that we are impressed with though. He is impressed by a willing heart that offers what it can. You may not feel like you have a lot to offer, but Jesus sees it very differently. No matter what you think you have or don't have, offer it to Jesus anyway. He doesn't care about the size of the gift as much as he cares about a willing heart.
As Jesus is watching people give their offerings in the temple, he sees several rich people come and give large offerings. They were doing this in view of the crowds so that they could be seen and recognized for their piety. The one that caught Jesus' attention, however, was a poor widow woman who gave to give her offering as well. While the rich poured in bags of money, she gave two small coins. In today's economy her offering was worth probably less than two dollars. Yet she is the one that Jesus recognized and pointed out to his followers.
What drew Jesus' attention was not the size of her offering, it was her willingness to give what she had. Sometimes we don't think that we have much to offer that Jesus can use. We see the gifts, talents, abilities, or resources that other people have and we feel like there is no way that we can complete with that; there is no way that Jesus can take and use the little that we have to offer him. Jesus isn't impressed with the things that we are impressed with though. He is impressed by a willing heart that offers what it can. You may not feel like you have a lot to offer, but Jesus sees it very differently. No matter what you think you have or don't have, offer it to Jesus anyway. He doesn't care about the size of the gift as much as he cares about a willing heart.