⁴¹Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. ⁴² But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.⁴³ Calling his disciples to Him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. ⁴⁴ They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:41-44

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    Are you there in your mind, picturing this scene, watching it play out,

possibly like this?

A poor widow enters the crowd, remaining alone.  Her garments clean but faded, restitched and resewn.   Head bowed and back bent, moving slowly through the crowd.  Separate from those with heads proudly raised, arrayed in the finest apparel.  Leaning on a walking stick, looking to the ground, carefully watching her steps, she approaches the temple treasury.

Without display, she holds two coins in her calloused, wrinkled hands.  Not holding back, not gripping tightly with difficult release, but freely letting go of all she has to give. She places the coins in the temple treasury, a decision made before this moment, a commitment of faith. It is all she has, a few cents to offer. Head bowed, she moves slowly away, drifting through the crowds, leaving as she came, alone.

Someone else is watching. His eyes see all. The Teacher instructs His students: Out of poverty- the point we all enter His presence. The wealth we think we leave in the treasury-never ours. The faith to place everything we have in His hands-to freely give.  A remonstrance to those who proudly give of “their wealth”– while allowing a widow to depart alone to a life of hardship. Did they understand?

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 Where are we in this scene? Are we among the proud givers?  Are we hidden in the crowd, merely bystanders, giving nothing to the treasury or the widow?  Are we near the disciples, whom Jesus must call to Him? Or are we close to Jesus, watching what He sees and hearing what He hears?  Are we listening to His Words? Do we understand?

 Two mites, coins with very low value.

The poor widow of low social status.

Submission.   Sacrifice.   Trust.   Faith.

A simple story of profound significance.

Would we watch her walk away?

Could we give the two mites so freely-

 If this was all we had?

(Sharon G. Tate blog 11/06/16)  teacherforjesus.com  Meditations on God’s Word