Gospel – Mark 12:38-44

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.”

Reflection on the Gospel

Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God.

In this Gospel the Lord teaches a very valuable lesson about intention and humility. Intention and humility are two concepts which we perhaps do not consider enough in our fast paced lives. Are we like the scribes adorned in fine robes making a show of our charity and good works? Or are we like the widow, dressed in rags, quietly going about doing the works of God? Or perhaps, are we a little bit of both? What’s really important to remember here, is not so much about appearance, but it’s really about the intentions we hold in our hearts. For all intents and purpose, the poor widow gave a much less valuable contribution than the scribes, but when we consider the intention, the story completely changes. The widow gave all that she had, in essence, she gave her very best, and did so with humility and quiet. The scribes on the other hand, made sure that all peoples present recognized their social status, their presence, and their contribution, and thus, they received their reward now, recognition from others. We should aim to be like the widow, quiet, unassuming, and humble, with a heart that is filled with good intentions that are put into action. When we possess these characteristics, we make the Lord smile, because at the end of the day, it’s not how many coins we put in the treasury that matters, it’s the amount of effort and joy we put into making Gods Kingdom present here on earth that makes all the difference.

Mr. Michael Stewart
La Salle Academy – New York, NY

Saint John Baptist de La Salle – Pray for us.
Live, Jesus, in our hearts – Forever