Giving From Need

What would make you give away all you have?

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 12:41-44

In today's Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that the widow who gave all she had to the treasury offered more than all the rich who offered large sums, for she gave out of her need and not out of abundance.

What is missing here, and where our minds want to go, is what happens next?

What will the widow do now that she has given all she has?

As an example of charity, we get the message.  We should be givers not just from the abundance, but from the meat, the core, down to the bone.  But then what?

What comes next, I think, is true faith.

On the one hand, we have a woman who may have decided to give her last penny to God knowing she will die.  On the other hand, she is handing herself over to God and putting her whole trust in Him for what comes next in her life.

We have trouble doing that, don't we?

That kind of all in faith is something we reserve for people we know who are struggling.  We tell then God will provide and we may even believe it is true.  Somehow God will help you through this difficult time.

We may not think God has sent this person to us for us to help, for us to share with from our need.

God knows we don't have abundance, and yet he sends the needy to us.

So, what do we do?

The widow had no one, so she gave to the treasury, and we do the same when we give to the church or to our favorite charity.  We give there because we do not know the ones who need.

But God knows and God will send them.

We should be ready to receive them as brothers and sisters and offer them a place at our table, as He has done for us.

It is in giving that we receive, and in receiving others that we see God.

So, why not go out there and come face-to-face with those in need?

It just might change you.

More to come...