Just yesterday, someone told me, years ago, a priest visited them and prayed for the family. The poor family had nothing to give to him except a few coins. The priest got angry with them for giving him so little, so he refused to take that money and told them to buy peanuts and give to the children. This incident reminded me of what Jesus had said about the poor widow, in the gospels. “A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny”. Then he called his disciples and said to them “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury, for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on” (Mk. 12:42-22).
I have encountered, many such widows and poor people in my life. Many a times, it is the poor people who are more generous than those who have plenty. Recently one elderly mother, who attended our Saturday retreat came to me and gave Rs.500/- for God’s work. I told that mother, you need that money in this old age, please use it for your need; in return she said, no father, if I give, God will bless me and give me more. I was really shocked to hear that. There are many, poor people like the poor widow in the gospel, even though they do not have much to give, in what they give they please God, with their generosity.
We have a similar situation in the old testament. During the time of prophet Elijah, the widow of Zarephat, who had nothing to live on yet she believed God and did what the man of God had said. For Elijah told her, “do not be afraid; go and do as you have said; but first make a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord the God of Israel; The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the Lord, sends rain on the earth” (1 Kings 17:13-14).
Yes! The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of God, that he spoke by Elijah. So, do not be stingy or greedy, in sharing what you have; for God sees your heart, while man sees the amount. So, let us be generous in giving, so that God may bless our generosity and bless us abundantly. Amen.
