6Th. JUNE. SATURDAY OF WEEK 9

READINGS

1.Tobit 12: 1,5-15 ( The weeding of Tobias and Sarah)

2.Gospel: Mark 12:38-44 

REFLECTIONS AND MEDITATIONS

"Little things Mean  a Lot"

Religion will have no sense at all if its readers focus upon self gratification, splendid vestments, guaranteed  front seats in synagogues and churches, places of honor at banquets, and long prayers. To correct such misconceptions Jesus warmly praises the old woman putting her two small copper coins into the  collection box.In her intent she contributed more than all others because they gave from their surplus, while her self gave from her dire need. This kind of giving tells us that the widow gave herself totally to God.

The widow's offering seems to be  something small, however it displays tremendous generosity of spirit. The widow in giving very small amount of money to the temple treasure was giving every thing she had depended and lived on. Jesus identifies her to his own disciple as the model to be imitated. In this context Jesus also taught his disciples to learn from the people who even were not his disciples that they could also offer something good. This woman who gave everything  foreshadowed Jesus  ( the figure of Jesus) who was soon giving every thing on the cross. 

The woman teaches us to live in accordance with divine generosity. We learn a lesson from widow's offering that we have to rely on the providence of God. God is one who gives thus the more we give the more we receive because God is one to provide what we ask him through prayers. A woman reminds us also that we live with saints in our midst without recognizing them. A wonderful generosity of spirit can reveal itself in gestures that appear very ordinary and insignificant to those observing. We are challenged that at times we seem to have very little and ignore them as nothing before God, but if they are given in a generous spirit thus we become rich in the eyes of God. 

Jesus teaches us that the animating principle of genuine giving is the heart. A gift that is given with envy, competition, showing off loses its value. The gift that is given out of love, generosity and sacrifice is invaluable. The amount or size of the gift does not matter before God, what matters most is the heart and the attitude of giving. It is an invitation to each one of us that we have to give whatever we have however how little it is, this include our gifts/our talents. The single gift/ talent can transform our christian communities and the Church at large and make them to be a good place whereby others feel the presence of God in their lives. "In the scale of divine Justice the quantity of gifts is not measured, but steadfastness of souls."( Leo the Great)