Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd contributed. 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 12:41-44).

Every time I hear this Gospel reading I think of motherhood. Our vocation draws us into a life of radical generosity. The poor widow gives out of her poverty and Jesus recognizes that her gift far exceeds the gifts of the wealthy.  How often do you give yourself out of extreme poverty? How often is more asked of you when you feel you have nothing left to give? The very nature of your vocation asks you to give when you feel you have nothing left. Perhaps you are surrounded by little ones who need your body all the time and you long to just be left alone for five minutes. Perhaps you are working and you come home feeling you have nothing left to give.  Or maybe you gave your body and your life and now your children don’t need you in the same way and you feel lost. You have given out of your poverty and Christ longs to fill you with his surplus of faith, joy, peace and great, great love. Find consolation in the first reading: “The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth” (Kings 17:15). He longs to sustain you, to fill you up. You cannot give more than He has; He delights in your gift; He delights in you.

PRAYER: Generous God, may I truly give not just out of my surplus but out of my poverty. And when I feel depleted and incapable of giving more (monetarily, emotionally, physically and spiritually) may I truly find my strength in you and give with great joy and selfless generosity. AMEN