Word to the Wise
Saturday, June 6, 2020 - Saturday in the 9th Week in Ordinary Time
[2 Tim 4:1-8 and Mark 12:38-44][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. 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. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood." [Mark]
The first part of today's gospel scripture has Jesus criticizing the Scribes for abusing their influence and power, based largely on their ability to read and write and know all the minutiae of the Mosaic Law. One of the victims of that abuse that Jesus identifies is widows. The phrase "widows and orphans" is used many times in the Bible to identify the poorest and most vulnerable members of the society of the day. That criticism sets the scene for the second half of today's passage. The central character is the poor widow who comes to pay her temple tax.
One interpretation of the scene is a criticism of the temple authorities in requiring such a poor widow to make a contribution. Another interpretation would emphasize the radical generosity of the widow and note that Jesus' own generosity in sacrificing his life is being foretold here by Jesus. It seems to me that both interpretations offer opportunity to reflect. Laws which purport to treat everyone equally may in fact not do so because of the circumstances of individuals. A second thought might be our own generosity. Does it come from our "surplus" or from our "poverty?" What impacts our generosity toward the poor and vulnerable, or even to our local church? The same scene can give rise to much that we need to think about. AMEN