"Love to be real, it must cost—it must hurt—it must empty us of self." – Mother Teresa
(Gospel text: LK 21:1-4)
When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. He said, "I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood."
Today, as it happens so often, small things go by unnoticed: small alms, small sacrifices, small prayers but what, at times, may look small and unimportant; frequently represent the true meaning of what it means to be a Catholic.
The widow's generosity is a good lesson for us.
We can be extremely generous, as the wealthy people that were «putting their gifts into the treasure box» (Lk 21:1). But, none of this will be worthwhile if we only give “from our plenty”, without any love or a generous spirit, without offering ourselves along with our gift
St. Augustine says: «They looked at the great offerings from the wealthy and they praised them for that. And, even if they could see the widow later on, how many did notice those two coins...? She gave whatever she had, for she had God in her heart. But she had plenty, for she had God in her heart. It is better to have God in our soul than gold in the safe». Quite true!
Let us be generous with God and He will be much more so with us