Widow’s Mite

Not a parable. It happened, Jesus saw it, and he invites us now to see the depths of our own widow’s mite.

He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”

She put in all she had to live on.

Another way to see it: the widow gave out of the very best she was given. To the world, two small copper coins might have looked too small, perhaps even negligible, an embarassment. But to her, and between her and God, it was all and the very best she was given. And from that she wholly gave.

For from where else could she have given?

Imagine if she had cowered in self-pity instead, comparing and desiring her rich neighbors’ bounty over her own, retreating in jealousy and bitterness – denying, doubting, fearing and ultimately rejecting her own gifts.

Am I not guilty of the exact same with my own gifts? What is it that prevents us from giving fully from the very best we have been given?

For from where else can we give?

As these whispers go, this morning’s sounds again like the continuous thread woven from the same tapestry that has been unfolding before me all these months. Last week: that my Genius (for that is what our gifts are) is the Love in the whole wide world and in all time I alone can fill.

My Genius is my Widow’s Mite. It takes humility and gratitude and love.

And Ignatius in his Suscipe: Take and receive… all I have is from You… Yours was the gift… to You I give everything back.

AMDG.

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Andre Yap November 27, 2017