Monday, November 25, 2002
34th Week in Ordinary Time
1st Reading: Rev 14:1-3, 4-5
Gospel: Lk 21:1-4
Jesus looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasure box; he also saw a poor widow dropping in two small coins. And he said, "Truly, I tell you, this poor widow put in more than all of them. For all gave an offering from their plenty, but she, out of her poverty, gave all she had to live on."
Commentary
It is not difficult to picture this scene. Maybe because nowadays we have too many poor people with us. It is not a matter of increasing their virtue. The poor as well as the rich have many defects. But we must recognize that they tend to be very generous with the little they have. Their capacity to share is very great. It is not a theory. There are many who can testify to this generosity, this attitude of hospitality. We can give many psychological explanations. But, could it not be that the poor, by being poor, are simply freer? Let us remember that when we follow Jesus our baggage better be light.