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 44:12
Jesus and the apostles sit across from the Temple treasury and watch people deposit their offerings. He doesn’t specifically comment on the rich people who make large donations, but we can’t help but draw a connection to his comment about the scribes who like to call attention to themselves. And then a widow drops in her two coins–as Jesus notes “out of her poverty (she) has put in everything she had.”
I don’t think Jesus is looking to have the poor give away everything they have–but I think he’s asking us to examine what we choose to give. Do we give (our time, our financial support, our attention, etc) only from our “abundance?” Do we sometimes think that what we can offer would be so small that it wouldn’t make a difference so why bother?
A pastor in another church I attended did a wonderful illustration with the children that showed how “lots of littles” can make a big difference. He had a small table, something like the one our ushers have to hold the bulletins by the door. He called up a young person and asked them to imagine that they could only use one finger on one hand–and asked them to lift the table. This ingenious little boy tried to hook his finger around the edge, push up from the center, but nothing succeeded in getting the table off the floor. Then Pastor called up three other children and each put a finger under one side of the table–and it rose off the floor and they could carry it and move it easily.
We should not hesitate to dedicate all that we have or can do, great and small, easily given or produced through hardship, to God. God’s love can magnify the impact of even our smallest efforts done to his glory.
Peace to you,
Mary Beth Commisso
Readings for the week
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Psalm 146
Numbers 36:1-13
Romans 5:6-11
Friday, November 6, 2009
Psalm 146
Deuteronomy 15:1-11
Hebrews 9:15-24
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Psalm 146
Deuteronomy 24:17-22
Mark 11:12-14, 20-24
Sunday, November 8, 2009
1 Kings 17:8-16
Psalm 146
Hebrews 9:24-28
Mark 12:38-44
Monday, November 9, 2009
Psalm 94
Ruth 1:1-22
1 Timothy 5:1-8
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Psalm 94
Ruth 3:14-4:6
1 Timothy 5:9-16
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Psalm 94
Ruth 4:7-22
Luke 4:16-30
