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Thursday, November 12, 2009
The Power of Generosity
 Psalm 127; Mark 12:38-44
In the midst of their busiest week ever, while official opposition came ever closer to the boiling point, Jesus decided it was time for his disciples to do... absolutely nothing.
Right out there in Jerusalem's public square, he sat them down to stop, look, and listen a while. To simply pay attention.
Who else was there? What were they all doing? Any clues about why? Or where it all might lead?
Located as they were across the way from the Temple, they observed priests coming and going, worshipers on their way to and from the prayers and sacrifices, and various people putting money in the offering box.
Rich folks made a show of their giving, maybe unavoidably so. For no such thing as a bank check had been invented. So a sizable contribution would involve a lot of cash, which could take some time to stuff into the container.
And then, up stepped one poor widow, and she dropped in two small copper coins. Clink, clink. That's all she had to give -- 2 cents -- and give it she did.
At that Jesus spoke up. "This woman's gift was the biggest offering of the whole day," he said. "For she gave God everything she had!"
Why? What do you suppose was going on in her life that particular day, to motivate such a generous donation? That week, or that season in her long and lonely life?
Whatever it was, what she did with it moved Jesus and his disciples to grateful praise. You and I, too, should sing her praises if we've been paying the least bit of attention.
Brother David Steindl-Rast may have had this story in mind when he wrote, "The greatest gift one can give is thanksgiving. In giving gifts, we give what we can spare, but in giving thanks we give ourselves."
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posted by Jack Buckley at
5:37 PM
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