The Widow’s Mite

41 He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. 43 Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. 44 For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.” (Mark 12)

Reflection

Sometimes, we are awed by the huge donations of very rich people and think this makes them very generous. Generous they may be but not nearly so much as this poor woman who gives of what she needs to live on and not just what she has left over after a life of excess. It is quite easy to see who is the most generous when put in these terms. (Kerygma)

Definitions

• Mite - a small coin or sum of money, a very little : bit, a very small object or creature
• Money - something generally accepted as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment
• Treasury - a place in which stores of wealth are kept
• Contributors - to give or supply in common with others <contribute money to a cause>
• Surplus - the amount that remains when use or need is satisfied, an excess of receipts over disbursements
• Wealth - abundance of valuable material possessions or resources 
• Whole - constituting the total sum or undiminished entirety
• Livelihood - means of support or subsistence