Thanksgiving Thought

         “And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites, So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”  (Luke 21, 1-4)

          Jesus calls our attention to a poor widow who donated the last two coins in her possession into the collection box at the Temple.  The “widow’s mite” is synonymous with the generosity of those who give gladly from the little they possess.  Her gesture expresses a most significant characteristic of people of sincere faith: the total gift of themselves to the Lord and to their neighbor.  The widow of the Gospel offered everything she had---most importantly her SELF, placing herself in God’s hands.  Jesus praised this act of faith, stressing that the widow gave more than the rich who offer part of what is superfluous to them.  “She out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood” (Mark 12, 44).

          As I reflect upon the sterling example of the widow of the Gospel text, I am thankful to Almighty God this Thanksgiving for all those faithful in our parishes that joyfully give not what is superfluous to them, but give of themselves---for offering “their whole livelihood” to Almighty God and His Church.

                                                 -----------Metropolitan Methodios of Boston