From her poverty

After warning the people about the scribes who seek honor in public places but privately oppress the widows, Jesus notices a poor widow dropping two small coins, nothing compared to the large sums given by the rich at the Temple treasury.

- 

Yet, Jesus praises the poor widow for her generosity. She is not expected to give at all. But she has shown to be so different from the scribes who rather victimize the poor.

We, Christians, must be careful in our dealings with the poor. Let us not enrich ourselves at the expense of our poor workers. Rather, let us imitate the poor widow who demonstrates that poverty is not a hindrance to being generous. It is not true that we cannot give anything for the needs of others.

REFLECTIONS TODAY

Only the stingy say these words.

First Reading • Dn 1:1-6, 8-20

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came and laid siege to Jerusalem. The Lord handed over to him Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and some of the vessels of the temple of God; he carried them off to the land of Shinar, and placed the vessels in the temple treasury of his god.