The Gift

As he taught, he said, ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the market-places, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honour at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.’

He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.’

-Mark 12:38-44

Here we have Jesus at his eloquent best. His eloquence is not florid, not long-winded, but simple, and to the point, and furthermore his audience knows exactly what he is talking about. He reaches right into their experiences, he reaches to their hearts and what they know, and he tells the truth.

From hypocrisy, and from hidden corruption, he knows they suffer. People whose jobs it is to know and teach the law have allowed the law to shield themselves from the scrutiny of the heart, and of conscience. For the sake of appearances, they are holy and devout and the glory is theirs among the religious. But they make the widows suffer, and the poor oppressed.

The widow, by contrast, has given her whole heart to God, and her offering, although we could call it a pittance, is a fitting symbol of her whole heart, and all her abundance of offering. She cannot make the appearance the scribes can, but her heart has been given over to God.

This is a question of love. We can see it in our relationships with others. Do we give our best or just put in an appearance, and behind the scenes we take what is not ours? Do we love with our whole hearts, and our gifts (although perhaps poor) reflect the abundance of love in the heart? A paradox, but still true today, as simply as it is told.