Wednesday, November 7, 2001
Wednesday, November 7, 2001
He said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of
them."
The King James Bible calls it "widow's mite." Writer Angela Akers tells of traveling on
American Airlines. Out of sheer boredom, she began flipping through the airplane
shopping
catalogue. These catalogues are perfect for bored passenger with too much money on
their
hands. They are filled with expensive doodads. Among the jewelry items, there was a
necklace
that caught Ms. Akers' eye. It was labeled "The Widow's Mite Necklace." No, they
weren't
kidding. Some jeweler had taken a mite, an ancient coin that was practically worthless
in Jesus'
time, and coated it in sterling silver, then hung the trinket on a glittering, sterling silver
chain.
Or, for a few hundred dollars more, you could get that same necklace in 14 karat gold. I
wonder
what Jesus would have thought of a gold-plated widow's mite.
(Luke 21:3
NRSV)
Jesus saw the rich giving enormous sums to the temple treasury, and a poor widow
giving two
measly copper coins. This scene provoked a comment from Jesus. "Truly I tell you,
this poor
widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of
them have
contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she
had, all
she had to live on." Jesus praised the woman for her small, but heartfelt gift.
Dear God, may my offering to you be generous and from the heart. Amen.
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