From surplus or from poverty

“I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.” (Lk 21: 3-4)

It is very good if we have more than others and we can “put in” to support them, but sometimes “more” doesn’t mean only more money: “this poor widow put in more than all the rest.” Sometimes “more” means the ability to be an unconditional gift of self–when we are focused on another person not on ourselves, or when we can offer 5 minutes of our precious time, one phone call or a nice complement just to make her/him (even “more”) happy.

“Stay awake! For you do not know when the Son of Man will come.” (Gospel Acclamation)