A modern take on the Poor Widow story..

While sitting watching people coming to and fro, placing their offerings in the temple treasury, Jesus saw how many rich people threw in large amounts. But one poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.

Yet, she was the one Jesus noticed. Calling his disciples, he told them: "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything- all she had to live on." [Mark 12:41-43]


Two friends of mine both attend a church which is being used as a place of refuge for people who are fleeing (mostly) township areas due to various xenophobic attacks that have been taking place in areas in South Africa. Many of them had fled with only what the clothes on their back, some had been able to leave with things they could carry, but the majority of them, already in poorer circumstances than the average church attender of that church, had lost everything. Having no other place to go, when Sunday came, they were all still there. So they were there for the morning service, and in an act of generosity which definitely humbled my friends all gave when the offering plate came around. And at the evening service, they all gave again.

Just makes me wonder about how much I give.