November 8th , 2009
Why did she give?
Jesus watched people putting money into the temple treasury, as we hear in today’s gospel. I like to think that he’s also watching as we open the mail from so many parishioners who are making contributions to paying off our debt and others who send in special contributions for different ministries in our parish.
Some of these donation have been quite large.... $100,000.... $75,000...$10,000....$5,000, etc. But then there are the $20 contributions along with notes like, “I wish it could be more but I’ve been out of work since the beginning of this year” and “this is all I can offer at this time because of the medical expenses I’m facing with my family....”
Jesus helps his disciples to put everything in perspective when he notices a widow putting in two small coins into the treasury. “This poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.”
So I’m curious. Why did she give? She had every excuse not to. She was really poor. She had no husband to rely on. She could have justified not giving by saying, “God gave me the little I have to live on and I need it to provide for myself.” I guess there are a number of reasons that people give -- guilt or “that’s how I was brought up” or “the church needs it” or “I feel sorry for those in need so I’ll give something to help out.”
But those are the motivations of reluctant givers. This widow was certainly not reluctant or she would have given one coin. She gave two -- twice as much as she “had to” if she just wanted to satisfy some sense of obligation. Could it be that she was grateful to God for her life, for her faith and that she wanted to show that thanks in a physical way? What more dramatic sign of gratitude could she show than to humbly give back to God all that had been given to her? Here is someone who lived in complete trust that God, who had provided for her in the past, would also take care of her in the days ahead.
As we head towards Thanksgiving Day, this gospel can inspire us to choose ways to thank God for our blessings and challenge us to act in more generous ways as we share our time, talent & treasure.
