He noticed a poor widow.
Who did you notice at Mass on Saturday or Sunday? Maybe you caught a glimpse of someone in a fancy new dress. Perhaps you spotted a family whose children behaved perfectly. Or maybe a handsome young man whom you had never seen before came in and sat down right in front of you. We tend to notice the impressive people; we don’t notice the ordinary. That’s the way our minds work. But that’s not who Jesus noticed. He noticed a poor widow.
Somehow, amid all the activity, Jesus singled out this woman. He didn’t reject the wealthier people’s offerings, but this widow touched his heart in a special way. He saw far more than her meager gift. Those two coins reflected her heart; in deep faith and trust, she offered God everything. No wonder Jesus wanted his disciples to see this!
Like the widow, there are times when we give all we have. Often this happens within our family, when we make sacrifices for our spouse or our children. Parents work tirelessly to provide for their family. They spend sleepless nights caring for a sick child or spouse. A husband or wife listens patiently when the other has a difficult day. Why? Because love does such things. Just as Jesus saw the widow, he sees these acts of love. He sees you. It’s not hard to imagine him smiling and saying to his Father, “See how they love one another!”
So what about giving our all to Jesus? How can we have a generous heart for the Lord? It’s not just a matter of giving more money or praying longer or going to Mass more often. It certainly pleases God if we can do any of these things. But it’s not in the doing; it’s in the intention. It’s a matter of our hearts. It’s a matter of offering Jesus every task we do and carrying it out with all the love we can muster.
St. Paul said it best: “Whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God”. So whether you are changing diapers or brokering business deals, pause and dedicate it to God. Do this several times during the day. Your joy will grow. Your awareness of God’s presence will grow. And Jesus will surely bless you.
word among us
Fr. I do not always read your newsletter. In fact I must admit that I do not read it more than I do read it. I don’t know what caused me to read this today but I have to say that I am glad that I did.
Life has left me very tired and feeling broken over the last couple of years. I feel more than my age for the first time in my life. I feel that I am stretched to my limits. I read your letter today and it brought me to tears. You see for many years I started every day with a simple prayer. “Lord let the thoughts in my mind, the words from my lips and the actions from my heart be yours and not mine.” Your quote from St. Paul reminded me that I have not said my simple prayer in a very long time. The thought came to me that God did not forget me, quite possibly I have forgotten Him and that cause me to cry.
Thank you for being who you are and for your words of wisdom.