Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest.”

 

Gospel Reading: Luke 21:1-4

 

When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”

 

In today’s Gospel reading, we hear the story of the widow’s mite. Jesus is sitting with his disciples when Jesus saw some wealthy people making an offerings to the church.  He also noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins, all the money that she had.  This act was so significant that he said to his disciple, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.” So what is Jesus really telling his disciples? Today’s message is about sacrifice. Being willing to give not out of our excess but out of what we need. He is not complaining about the offerings of the rich, but celebrating the fact that a poor woman gave everything she had. This shows a true love and trust for God. The rich offerings were from the excess of their lives, but this woman sacrificed everything of value that she had. The poor woman gave both coins, the only coins she had. She could have given just one coin, but she gave both coins leaving her nothing. Some might say that this was foolish and reckless of the woman and I would agree. Christ calls us to be reckless with our love for him. He calls us to give everything we have to him. Not just 10 percent or even 50 percent, but 100 percent of what we have must be given to God.  What we have to offer the Lord may look pitiful and insignificant and not of much value, but if it truly comes from the heart, if it is truly a sacrifice then that gift will be graciously accepted by the Lord.

 

This Sunday, we begin the season of advent where we are in preparation for the second coming of the Lord. What gifts and sacrifices are you offering to prepare the way for the Lord? We often do not think of this season as a time sacrifice, but a time of celebration. However, the Christmas season has become more about material glory and wealth and less about giving to others. Christmas has become so commercialized that we forget that this is the time of year when Christ was born. We should prepare the way for the Lord. We should make straight the path which leads to his Manger. It is time for us to give not only from our excess, but from the whole of our existence. We must be willing to give everything back to God, for it all belongs to Him anyway.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord, your love for me knows no bounds.

I know that all that I have is a gift from you.

I pray that I have the strength to give it all back to you.

I pray that I have the strength to give my life, my gifts and my talents back to you.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon