They even devour the widow’s and the orphan’s goods while making a show of long prayers. How severe a sentence they
will receive!” Jesus sat down opposite the temple treasury, and watched the people dropping money into the treasury box; and many rich
people put in large offerings. But a poor widow also came and dropped in two small coins. Then Jesus called his disciples and
said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all those who gave offerings. For all of them gave from their
plenty, but she gave from her poverty, and put in everything she had, her very living.”

Reflection:

Jesus warns His disciples of those who uses religion to enrich themselves.
They accumulate prestige and money by pretending superior spirituality. They
love to dress up to project power and authority. They exaggerate religious acts
and demand respect for their office from people in excessive ways. That is why
the clerical hierarchical mindset is all about. It is a contrived power without
any basis in reality. On the other hand, there are those who exude quiet dignity
that come from their inmost being. Take for example the widow in the gospel.
She gave all that she can afford unselfconsciously. She is not ashamed of her
poverty. There is dignity in her giving no matter how small it may be in the eyes
of the world. She has power not dependent on what she has. It is a power that comes
from within that can never be faked.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2021