By Tarsish Marak csc –
Readings: 2Tim 4:1-8; Mk 12:38-44
St. Paul says, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Similarly, the gospel reading of the day invites me to offer everything joyfully and willingly to God and the people. In ancient times the act of offering was a kind of practice that people followed in every culture. However, every person’s offering is different.
The person who respects and knows God offers his/her humble offerings to God and is happy to offer any amount of big and small offerings. And in the life of the poor widow, she offers only two coins with satisfaction and contentment. Some people offer gifts to get respect and honors, some people offer because it is obligatory, and some people offer out of their generous heart without any expectations and demands.
And Jesus saw what the poor widow did and he recognized that she was faithful and sincere and that even at the time of difficulty she surrendered to God generously all that she had. Her offering was rich in the eyes of God. For Jesus, the amount is not the matter but wholly and willingly offering is important.
Therefore, Jesus wants an inner gift that only comes from the heart. We always appear and show that we are better than the other. But we are not even qualified in the eyes of God because he does not look at the outward appearance, rather he looks at our heart. So let us be generous in giving like the widow. We may have plenty or little but offer to God without hesitation.