“The poor widow put in more than all the others.”

From our Gospel we hear Jesus say, “A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, ‘Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury.’” She had faith that God would care for her needs.

From our first reading from the First Book of Kings, the widow tells Elijah when he asks for a little cake, “I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar and a little oil in my jug. Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks, to go in and prepare something for myself and my son; when we have eaten it, we shall die.” She did as Elijah asked with faith that God would care for her and her son.

In our second reading from Hebrews, it says, “Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, by his sacrifice.” The point is that two widows, who had very little, willing gave all that they had for another – for God in the Temple in the Gospel, and for Elijah in the First Reading. They did not withhold anything, using all that they had to serve another. In the Letter to the Hebrews, Jesus gives all that He had, His very life, for all of us.

We are called to act, out of love, like the widows, who acted like Jesus. It is easy to give out of our surplus. However, when we give all we have for God and for our neighbor, like these widows, who gave all, as Jesus did, we show faith that God will provide for all that we need. In His absolute faith in His heavenly Father, Jesus was raised from the dead. In our absolute faith in Jesus, our heavenly Father will raise us also.

– Bp. Roy Campbell