Sunday Reflections

There are three kinds of ‘givers’ – ‘grudging givers’, ‘duty givers’ and ‘thanks givers’. There is no doubt which kind of giver the poor widow in the gospel was. She put all her trust in God and his providence. Although she was poor, she still recognized God as loving and as her benefactor, and her contribution was an act of gratitude to God. 

The rich, in the gospel, gave a lot, but for the ‘wrong’ reasons – to impress and out of obligation. Thus, the challenge of Jesus to the scribes and Pharisees, who had that attitude. Jesus was more interested in a giving from the heart, an expression of their gratitude. We, too, are called to be generous ‘thanks givers’, giving of ourselves, as well as our times, talents and treasure from the heart.