Today is Nov. 10, Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time.
In today’s Gospel reading, we hear: “Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents” (Mk 12:41-42).
Jesus shows us the true value of generosity through the humble offering of a poor widow, who gave all she had — two small coins, the smallest coins in circulation in Judea in the time of Jesus. To the world, her gift may seem insignificant, but Jesus reveals its true worth: She has given more than anyone, for her gift comes from her poverty, not her surplus.
St. Ambrose of Milan, the great teacher and spiritual father of St. Augustine of Hippo, reflects on this moment as a lesson in how we ought to give — not by the measure of our wealth, but by the depth of our love. The widow’s act of generosity is not defined by the amount she gave but by the sacrifice it entailed, a gift born from love and faith. Her offering becomes rich because it is given with her whole heart, without reservation.
Spiritually, we might interpret the widow’s two coins as a mystical representation of the Bible: the Old and New Testaments. To this gift, the two testaments, what else could be added? The Second Vatican Council teaches, “The books of Scripture must be acknowledged as teaching solidly, faithfully and without error that truth which God wanted put into sacred writings for the sake of salvation” (Dei Verbum, No. 11). The Bible is complete, containing everything we need for our salvation.
Like the Magi who offered gifts from their hearts, and like the widow who cast her two mites into the treasury, we, too, are called to give from the treasures God has given to us. Ambrose encourages us to look inward, to offer God not only our possessions but the “good odor of faith” and the “disposition of a religious mind.” In giving with humility, with no pride or attachment to earthly wealth, we bring before God a gift that reflects his image within us — a gift of devotion and love.
Let us pray for the generosity to give even our simple gifts to the Lord:
Almighty and merciful God, graciously keep from us all adversity, so that, unhindered in mind and body alike, we may pursue in freedom of heart the things that are yours. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
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