Mite makes right

Today's Scripture

The story of the Widow's Mite, or the Widow's Offering appears in the Gospels of Mark and Luke. Uncharacteristically, Mark actually gives the event a longer treatment than Luke. Mark adds 'Many rich people came and put in large sums'. It occurred to me that the giving was not as discreet as it is today.

If you put a check in the basket, no-one knows how much it is for. If you have a contribution envelope, it could have 5 or $500 and no-one knows. This is a good thing. It was not so in Jesus' time. It is obvious from Mark's version (alluded to in Luke) that it was easy to ascertain whether someone was giving a large or small amount. This was made possible by two things: 1 - the currency of the day was coins, coins take up space, unlike a check. Although they can vary in value, it is fairly easy to see when there is a large volume of coins. 2 - they collected the offerings by having people dump them into larger copper receptacles. These have been described to me as very large and have a funnel shape at the top so that all coins deposited would hit metal, making an obvious sound.

Imagine then the scene. "[Jesus] looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury" and as they did, they would dump their sacs of coins into the funnel, the individual clanging of coins ringing together to collectively create a metallic whoosh. The more the offering, the louder and longer the ringing. Mark's Gospel adds that it was a multitude of people and many rich people put in large sums. How did they know they were rich? By the loudness and length of this metallic ringing. I think you get the picture - I'm sure some were indeed rich, and some might have been attempting to look rich (large volume of small coins???). Certainly, to at least some, a show of their wealth and generosity. Also, many contributed from a sense of true generosity, thinking and acting rightly. (note: Jesus did not say that the rich should take their money and go home.)

Then the widow, her two tiny coins barely making a noise at all as they tinkle down the funnel into the coffers. I guarantee that Jesus was not the only one who noticed, but as He often does, He notices differently than others. He sees her gift as tremendous. She is not putting on show, she is not pretending to be rich, she is giving from her poverty, not her abundance. We have heard this story from childhood, and from time to time, we probably call it to mind when filling our envelope for Sunday. Maybe we heed a call to give more, maybe we don't. But I would challenge you to not make this just about money. She has given from her poverty for the work of the Church.

What are we lacking in? The thing that I hear more often than anything that we are lacking is TIME. I have had conversations with people that have very demanding careers and busy lives, and they often say that once they get through this project, or this season at work, or this personal scenario that they will start participating in more. I have watched those same people arrive at retirement and still talk about how busy they are. When we arrive at heaven's gate, and we are asked 'how was your life?' 'Busy' won't cut it as an answer. It shouldn't cut it as an answer now either.

I have been as guilty as anyone of playing the 'busy' card, and being proud of how busy I was. There is no commandment that says: Thou shalt be busy. Here are several things that made a big difference for me: 1 - allow yourself to be busy about the right things. Intentionally choose one or two uses of your time that will bring you closer to God (reading daily scripture reflections might be one of them). 2.- Stop wearing busy as a badge of honor. Try to think of your life as 'full' - like a plate at a banquet. 3 - Dedicate time to performing a corporal or spiritual work of mercy every week. 4 - Don't ever consider your monetary contributions as a substitute for your time, energy or presence. When we give of our time to our church and to our loved ones and neighbors in need, we are giving from our poverty, because we do not know how much time we have left, and we can't make more of it.

Give from your poverty, and the metallic 'clink' of your offering will be music to the ears of our Lord, just as was on that day in Jerusalem.