Jesus observes the widow contributing from her poverty

Mark 12:38-44

In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds, “Beware the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the market places, 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 say 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 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.”

Apparently, like many of us, Jesus was a people watcher. Sometimes, when I find myself in someplace busy, like the mall or a city street, I sit on a bench or in my car and quietly and inconspicuously watch the people go by. I don’t do this for nefarious reasons, and it’s not an activity I plan out. Sometimes, the opportunity presents itself, and I take it. People fascinate me, and I enjoy an occasional round of people watching.

Jesus, of course, always finds a lesson in all He does, even people watching. While speaking to the crowds, He warns them about the scribes. Scribes were the scholars of the day, the lawyers among the ancient Palestinian Jews. They often wore long robes to show off their status, enjoyed being recognizned and greeted in marketplaces, as well as having the seats of honor in the synagogue or at social gatherings. Jesus condemns them because they “devour the houses of widows.” In other words, as lawyers, they were called upon to manage the estates of women whose husbands had died. They were paid by taking a percentage of the estate. Lawyers who displayed greater measures of piety (“as a pretext recite lengthy prayers”) were called on more often, perhaps because, being so pious, they won the trust of the widows. But they abused that trust by cheating the widows out of a considerable percentage of the estate. Jesus points out that they will receive a very severe condemnation.

Then He sits down near the treasury, where people put in their monetary contributions to the Temple, and watches. He notices the rich, as might be expected, putting in large amounts of money. Then He sees a widow come up and put in some coins that amount to a few pennies. Jesus is impressed. The rich, He points out, contributed from their surplus. In other words, they paid their bills, did their grocery shopping, got the extras they wanted for their homes, or their clothes, or what have you. Then, after paying for all that, they looked at what they had left and contributed from that. Rather than contribute their ten percent from all the income they had earned, they paid for everything they needed or wanted, then paid ten percent of that, their “surplus wealth.” The widow, who likely had little to nothing to contribute in the first place, nevertheless gave what she had, “all she had.” She contributed, Jesus says, “from her poverty.”

Let’s be clear. While the community was certainly obliged to support financially the Temple and the synagogue, as parishioners today are obliged to support financially their parish, no one is obliged to contribute from their poverty. This widow contributed, not because she was obliged to do so, but because she desired to honor God in this way. She gave all she had, which is exactly what Jesus wants of us who follow Him – all we have.

One lady asked me, after my pointing this out, “Isn’t Jesus being greedy?” It was likely a rhetorical question meant to get a chuckle from the book study members gathered that moring. But it deserved an answer. No, I explained, Jesus isn’t being greedy in demanding all we have. Being greedy is about desiring what is not yours, or more than you deserve. But Jesus deserves everything. He gave everything to us, to the last measure. So, He deserves everything from us.

What does this mean in terms of our financial contributions? I think it means giving until it hurts, and then a little more. This is the answer I received from a Religious Sister who was traveling about raising funds for the support of her community and their ministries when I asked her how much I should give. I think that’s a fair answer. I don’t think it means ten percent, necessarily. It may mean less, depending on our circumstances. It may, however, mean more, depending on our wealth. Whatever it means, it certainly means at least giving until it hurts, and then a little more.

But I think it applies to more than just money. Sometimes, there are days when we feel poor in grace, poor in kindness, poor in an attitude of service to others. Even still, being a follower of Jesus, and wishing to honor God, we contribute from our poverty. So, we are gracious, we are kind, we offer our services to others, even when we are poor in any or all of them, contributing from our poverty.

We can never give more to God than what God has given us. After all, He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him might have eternal life (Jn 3:16). He is worthy of whatever we give – and a little more.

Be Christ for all. Bring Christ to all. See Christ in all.