#widow's mite

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

The Widow’s Offering

1-4 Then he looked up and saw the rich people dropping their gifts into the treasury, and he noticed a poor widow drop in two coppers, and he commented, “I assure you that this poor widow put in more than all of them, for they have all put in what they can easily spare, but she in her poverty has given away her whole living.”

Jesus foretells the destruction of the Temple

5-6 Then when some of them were talking about the Temple and pointing out the beauty of its lovely stonework and the various ornaments that people had given, he said, “Yes, you can gaze on all this today, but the time is coming when not a single stone will be left upon another, without being thrown down.”

7 So they asked him, “Master, when will this happen, and what sign will there be that these things are going to take place?”

8-9 “Be careful that you are not deceived,” he replied. “There will be many coming in my name, saying ‘I am he’ and ‘The time is very near now.’ Never follow men like that. And when you hear about wars and disturbances, don’t be alarmed. These things must indeed happen first, but the end will not come immediately.

And prophesies world-wide suffering

10-19 Then he continued, “Nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes and famines and plagues in this place or that. There will be dreadful sights, and great signs from heaven. But before all this happens, men will arrest you and persecute you, handing you over to synagogue or prison, or bringing you before kings and governors, for my name’s sake. This will be your chance to witness for me. So make up your minds not to think out your defence beforehand. I will give you such eloquence and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict it. But you will be betrayed, even by parents and brothers and kinsfolk and friends. and there will be some of you who will be killed and you will be hated everywhere for my name’s sake. Yet, not a hair of your head will perish. Hold on, and you will win your souls!

20-28 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armed forces, then you will know that the time of her devastation has arrived. Then is the time for those who are in Judea to fly to the hills. And those who are in the city itself must get out of it, and those who are already in the country must not try to get into the city. For these are the days of vengeance, when all that the scriptures have said will come true. Alas for those who are pregnant and those who have tiny babies in those days! For there will be bitter misery in the land and great anger against this people. They will die by the sword. They will be taken off as prisoners into all nations. Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the heathen until the heathen’s day is over. There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth there will be dismay among the nations and bewilderment at the roar of the surging sea. Men’s courage will fail completely as they realise what is threatening the world, for the very powers of heaven will be shaken. Then men will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with great power and splendour! But when these things begin to happen, look up, hold your heads high, for you will soon be free.”

Vigilance is essential

29 Then he gave them a parable.

30-33 “Look at a fig-tree, or indeed any tree, when it begins to burst its buds, and you realise without anybody telling you that summer is nearly here. So, when you see these things happening, you can be equally sure that the kingdom of God has nearly come. Believe me, this generation will not disappear until all this has taken place. Earth and heaven will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

34-35 “Be on your guard—see to it that your minds are never clouded by dissipation or drunkenness or the worries of this life, or else that day may catch you like the springing of a trap—for it will come upon every inhabitant of the whole earth.

36 “You must be vigilant at all times, praying that you may be strong enough to come safely through all that is going to happen, and stand in the presence of the Son of Man.”

37-38 And every day he went on teaching in the Temple, and every evening he went off and spent the night on the hill which is called the Mount of Olives. And the people used to come early in the morning to listen to him in the Temple. — Luke 21 | J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS) The New Testament in Modern English by J.B Phillips copyright © 1960, 1972 J. B. Phillips. Cross References: Genesis 19:32; Genesis 34:26; Exodus 4:12; 1 Samuel 14:45; 2 Kings 12:9; Psalm 119:152; Ecclesiastes 9:12; Isaiah 5:30; Isaiah 63:4; Ezekiel 32:7; Daniel 7:13; Daniel 8:19; Daniel 9:27; Joel 2:30; Matthew 2:1; Matthew 3:2; Matthew 8:20; Matthew 10:21-22; Matthew 21:1; Matthew 21:19; Matthew 24:1; Mark 12:42; Mark 12:44; Mark 13:11; Luke 12:12; Luke 13:11; Luke 17:23; Luke 19:44; John 8:2; John 15:21; Romans 2:7; 2 Corinthians 8:12; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Philippians 1:12

Commentary on Luke 21 by Matthew Henry

[momentsbeforemass]

What we give easily

(for someone who needs to hear this again)

We hold on to what we love.

Whether we’re talking about people or things, it’s hard to give away what we hold dear.

Today’s Gospel is the story of the widow’s mite. Where Jesus praises the widow who gives generously from the little she has. In stark contrast to the wealthy who give out of their abundance.

The point Jesus is making isn’t really about giving more. Or even about money. It’s about priorities, about what we love.

The easiest thing to give? What we have more than enough of. What we don’t care about. What we don’t want.

Which means? What we give easily, gives us away.

What we give easily tells us what’s going on in our hearts. Even if we’re not aware of it.

Today, take a look at what you give easily. Be honest with yourself. Look at what that says about what you love, about your priorities.

If you don’t like what that says about you, ask God for the grace to make a change.

As Fulton Sheen put it, “You must remember to love people and use things, rather than love things and use people.”

Today’s Readings

[nerdygaymormon]

Just listened to a widows mite talk pushing prosperity culture and warm fuzzy feelings while ignoring Jesus criticizing the scribes and wealthy for letting the system get to this point and for abusing the poor for their own gain. My roommates don’t seem to get it when I tired to discuss it with them, do you have some scriptures you’d recommend to draw from to discuss this topic with them?

Typically when this story is read at church, it's done to admire the widow for giving all she had. Often this story is paired along with 2 Corinthians 9:7 "for God loveth a cheerful giver."

Two points, there's nothing to indicate the widow was 'cheerful,' and often when Jesus is endorsing a behavior, He says "Go, and do likewise," but He didn't say anything like that regarding the widow's contribution.

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The story of the widow's mite is found 2 times in the New Testament, in Mark 12:41-44, and Luke 21:1-4. In both cases, the story immediately preceding it is Jesus calling out the religious leaders who make a big show of being pious while living off of what the widows contribute, essentially stealing from widows. After pointing out the wickedness of taking from the widow, we get the story of the widow's mite.

Typically we break up these two stories, often never even talk about the first one. But if we were to read them back-to-back, the first introducing the second, I think it changes the way we think about the widow's mite.

It could be seen as a continuation of the condemnation of the religious leaders who encourage widows to make religious donations beyond their means.

Maybe instead of commending the widow's generosity, Jesus is condemning the system that makes the destitute feel they must contribute, or else.

We can also keep in mind that several times the Bible takes special care to mention widows and orphans as particularly vulnerable and need to be cared for. Rather than caring for the widow, the religious leaders were leaching off her.

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Both Mark & Luke follow the story of the widow's mite with one of Jesus' disciples pointing out the good stones that the temple is made of, and Jesus responds "Do you see these great buildings? There will not be one stone left upon another that will not be thrown down." (Mark 13:2-3 New English Translation). In other words, the widow's gift was not only misguided, but for nothing. The temple was destroyed in the year 70 C.E.

So there you go, on either side of the story of the widow's mite are the stories that give it an interpretation other than 'give what you have, even if it's all you have and you have nothing else to live on.'

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I have sat in many testimony meetings where someone talks about only having enough money to pay their rent or their tithing, only enough to buy groceries for the week or their tithing, and they chose to pay their tithing. Then something miraculous happened, like they found money in a pocket or an anonymous person left a box of groceries on their doorstep.

This seems to contradict the story of the widow’s mite if we understand that story to be a condemnation of religious leaders requiring a poor person to give all they have, and that allows the religious leaders to live comfortably. When’s the last time the church worried about being able to pay its electric bill?

Considering the LDS Church has billions of dollars in reserve, it seems exceptionally cruel to tell someone who is struggling that they are required to pay their tithing above all else. That is prioritizing the institution of the church ahead of their family’s needs, which we don’t see the scriptures making that the order of things. Parents have an obligation to meet the basic needs of their family, why is paying tithing ranked ahead of that?

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There is a queer application of this story. Queer people are being told to sacrifice everything for the church, to give up romance, sex, a life partner, and even who they are, on the altar. The church demands everything from a queer person.

However, the same is not true of non-queer people. They are not asked to sacrifice everything simply to remain part of the church, they aren't kicked out if they don't sacrifice everything.

Religious leaders are the ones demanding this sacrifice by queer people and admire those who are able to meet the demand. Jesus condemns treating widows or queer people this way where we are impoverished, and condemns the system of values that convinces many queer people this is what they need to try to do.

[momentsbeforemass]

What we give easily

(for someone who needs to hear this again)

We hold on to what we love.

Whether we’re talking about people or things, it’s hard to give away what we hold dear.

Today’s Gospel is the story of the widow’s mite. Where Jesus praises the widow who gives generously from the little she has. In stark contrast to the wealthy who give out of their abundance.

The point Jesus is making isn’t really about giving more. Or even about money. It’s about priorities, about what we love.

The easiest thing to give? What we have more than enough of. What we don’t care about. What we don’t want.

Which means? What we give easily, gives us away.

What we give easily tells us what’s going on in our hearts. Even if we’re not aware it.

Today, take a look at what you give easily. Be honest with yourself. Look at what that says about what you love, about your priorities.

If you don’t like what that says about you, ask God for the grace to make a change.

As Fulton Sheen put it, “You must remember to love people and use things, rather than love things and use people.”

Today’s Readings

[momentsbeforemass]

What we give easily

We hold on to what we love.

Whether we’re talking about people or things, it’s hard to give away what we hold dear.

Today’s Gospel is the story of the widow’s mite. Where Jesus praises the widow who gives generously from the little she has. In stark contrast to the wealthy who give out of their abundance.

The point Jesus is making isn’t really about giving more. Or even about money. It’s about priorities, about what we love.

The easiest thing to give? What we have more than enough of. What we don’t care about. What we don’t want.

Which means? What we give easily, gives us away.

What we give easily tells us what’s going on in our hearts. Even if we’re not aware it.

Today, take a look at what you give easily. Be honest with yourself. Look at what that says about what you love, about your priorities.

If you don’t like what that says about you, ask God for the grace to make a change.

As Fulton Sheen put it, “You must remember to love people and use things, rather than love things and use people.”

Today’s Readings

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Not One Stone Will Be Left Standing On Another

1 He looked up and saw rich people putting their contributions into the Temple treasury. 2 He also saw an impoverished widow putting in two tiny copper coins.

3 ‘I’m telling you the truth,’ he said. ‘This poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 They all contributed into the collection out of their plenty, but she contributed out of her poverty, and gave her whole livelihood.’

Signs of the End

5 Some people were talking about the Temple, saying how wonderfully it was decorated, with its beautiful stones and dedicated gifts.

‘Yes,’ said Jesus; 6 ‘but the days will come when everything you see will be torn down. Not one stone will be left standing on another.’

7 ‘Teacher,’ they asked him, ‘when will these things happen? What will be the sign that it’s all about to take place?’

8 ‘Watch out that nobody deceives you,’ said Jesus. ‘Yes: lots of people will come using my name, saying “I’m the one!” and “The time has come!” Don’t go following them. 9 When you hear about wars and rebellions, don’t be alarmed. These things have to happen first, but the end won’t come at once.

10 ‘One nation will rise against another,’ he went on, ‘and one kingdom against another. 11 There will be huge earthquakes, famines and plagues in various places, terrifying omens, and great signs from heaven.

12 ‘Before all this happens they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will hand you over to the synagogues and prisons. They will drag you before kings and governors because of my name. 13 That will become an opportunity for you to tell your story. 14 So settle it in your hearts not to work out beforehand what tale to tell; 15 I’ll give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict.

16 ‘You will be betrayed by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will kill some of you. 17 You will be hated by everyone because of my name. 18 But no hair of your head will be lost. 19 The way to keep your lives is to be patient.’

The Distress of Jerusalem Predicted

20 ‘But,’ continued Jesus, ‘when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you will know that her time of desolation has arrived. 21 Then people in Judaea should run off to the hills, people in Jerusalem itself should get out as fast as they can, and people in the countryside shouldn’t go back into the city. 22 Those will be the days of severe judgment, which will fulfil all the biblical warnings. 23 Woe betide pregnant women, and nursing mothers, in those days! There is going to be huge distress on the earth, and divine anger against this people. 24 The hungry sword will eat them up; they will be taken off as prisoners to every nation; and Jerusalem will be trampled by the pagans, until the times of the pagans are done.

25 ‘There will be signs in the sun, the moon and the stars. On earth the nations will be in distress and confusion because of the roaring and swelling of the sea and its waves. 26 People will faint from fear, and from imagining all that’s going to happen to the world. The powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see “the son of man coming on a cloud” with power and great majesty. 28 When all these things start to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because the time has come for you to be redeemed.’

29 He told them this parable. ‘Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they are well into leaf, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is upon you. 31 In the same way, when you see all these things happening, you will know that God’s kingdom is upon you. 32 I’m telling you the truth; this generation won’t be gone before all of this happens. 33 Heaven and earth may disappear, but these words of mine won’t disappear.’

Watching for the Son of Man

34 ‘So watch out for yourselves,’ said Jesus, ‘that your hearts may not grow heavy with dissipation and drunkenness and the cares of this life, so that that day comes upon you suddenly, 35 like a trap. It will come, you see, on everyone who lives on the face of the earth. 36 Keep awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the son of man.’

37 Jesus was teaching in the Temple by day, but at night he went out and stayed in the place called the Mount of Olives. 38 And from early morning all the people flocked to him in the Temple, to hear him. — Luke 21 | New Testament for Everyone (NTE) The New Testament for Everyone copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011. Cross References: Genesis 19:32; Genesis 34:26; Exodus 4:12; 1 Samuel 14:45; 2 Kings 12:9; Psalm 119:152; Ecclesiastes 9:12; Isaiah 5:30; Isaiah 63:4; Ezekiel 32:7; Daniel 7:13; Daniel 8:19; Daniel 9:27; Joel 2:30; Matthew 2:1; Matthew 3:2; Matthew 8:20; Matthew 10:21-22; Matthew 21:1; Matthew 21:19; Matthew 24:1; Mark 12:42; Mark 12:44; Mark 13:11; Luke 12:12; Luke 13:11; Luke 17:23; Luke 19:44; John 8:2; John 15:21; Romans 2:7; 2 Corinthians 8:12; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Philippians 1:12

Luke 21 Bible Commentary - Matthew Henry (concise)

[apenitentialprayer]

The Widow’s Mite, by Louis Glanzman

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.”

The Gospel According to Mark (12:41-44)

The Lord protects the resident alien,     comes to the aid of the orphan and the widow,     but thwarts the way of the wicked.

Psalm 146:9

She is anonymous on earth while in heaven her name is written in the Book of Life. She has no feast day. She purchased the Heart of Jesus with two mites. She is His exquisite Treasure, His secret.

She Came, God Saw, She Conquered, by Brian Kelly

                                   Responsory

The Lord will help her; His loving presence will be with her. — The Lord will help her; His loving presence will be with her. He dwells in her; she will not falter. — His loving presence will be with her. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. — The Lord will help her; His loving presence will be with her.

from the Roman Liturgy of the Hours, Common of Holy Women, Morning Prayer.

[apenitentialprayer]

Today at Mass, the priest in his homily cited a belief among the early Church Fathers that the widow who gave her two mites was, in fact, the Virgin Mary. I can't find any record of such a tradition in my usual places of reference. Anyone have any idea where he might have gotten that from?