Sunday Meditation: The Widow’s Mite

Last week Jesus spoke about loving God with everything, but this week He highlights someone who does, a poor widow who gives to the Temple her two only coins.  There’s more.  Last week he also praised a scribe.  This week He condemns scribes for their rapacious behavior.

 

In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds,

"Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes

and accept greetings in the marketplaces,

seats of honor in synagogues,

and places of honor at banquets.

They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext

recite lengthy prayers.

They will receive a very severe condemnation."

 

He sat down opposite the treasury

and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury.

Many rich people put in large sums.

A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.

Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them,

"Amen, I say to you, 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."

~Mk 12:38-44

 

Dr. Brant Pitre gives a gives a quick overview of the scene.

Just about all the exegesis of the Widow’s Mite passage runs along that line, but I did find someone who grasped it even further.  Fr. William Nicholas, who seems to have his own podcast which I will now stop by, finds a common theme with the widow in the first reading.

That's very insightful.  I have not come across that observation.  The widows are donating to the institutions, the prophet and the Temple, not to any specific charity, not to any good deed.  They are in essence donating to donating to an entity representing God. 

What exactly is a “mite”?  I did not really know.  From Webster’s, the second definition.  

mite

noun (2)

1: a small coin or sum of money

2a: a very little : bit

b: a very small object or creature

 

 

Sunday Meditation: “She, from her poverty, has contributed all she had,

her whole livelihood."

Returning to John Michael Talbot this Sunday, his “My God and My All” is most appropriate.