Homily on the Widow's Mite (Mark 12:38-44)
Today’s gospel passage, referred to as the “widow’s mite,” is usually interpreted to be about sacrificial giving. In the story, it seems that Jesus is favorably comparing the widow’s contribution, small as it was, with bigger offerings by wealthier people because they gave out of their excess. The unspoken expectation is that we should give till it hurts. Which is what the widow did - she gave everything she had.
While the idea that “To whom much is given, much is expected” rings true, the expectation that the widow give “everything she had, all that she had to live on” seemed to me to be extreme.
Maybe there is another way to interpret this passage if we unpack it in light of the preferential option for the poor.
But first, let’s look at what comes before and after the Widow’s mite. We find this story in between two warnings by Jesus.
In the first part of today’s Gospel reading, Jesus warns about prideful religious scholars who relished their place of honor, demanding respect as they walked through the marketplace. They grabbed the best seats at the Temple and took advantage of widows, robbing them of their livelihood and their inheritance rather than helping them in their need. Jesus sees, and points out the corruption and greed of the religious system which exploited the very people that needed protection.
After the story of the widow’s mite, we begin the next chapter with Jesus and his disciples leaving the temple. His disciples call Jesus’ attention to the architecture of the Temple, obviously impressed with how magnificent it was. Jesus is clearly not impressed by such extravagance when widows are going hungry. He responds by predicting the destruction of the temple.
So Jesus is not impressed by elaborate buildings, greedy people in high places or oppressive systems.
He does however bring our attention to the plight of destitute widows.
How are we to receive this message?
Why does Jesus offer the widow as an example?
And an example of what?
Is Jesus telling us that we too should contribute all that we have to church or charity?
This interpretation doesn’t seem to be supported by the text. Notice that Jesus did not say “Go and do likewise.”
Reading this passage as encouragement to give all you have does not seem to align with today’s first reading (1 Kings 17:10-16) where God is portrayed as the one who provides -- God provides oil and flour for a different destitute widow from the Hebrew Bible. God cares about people's needs, especially the needs of the poor.
A critical part of Catholic Social Teaching is the preferential option for the poor and vulnerable. Meaning: we are encouraged to imitate God’s love for the poor by working to create a society where the needs of the poor are always considered first. This is not to say that God loves the poor more than the rest of us, but that God recognizes that the needs of the poor are most urgent and calls the rest of us to be part of the solution.
We find more support for this concept that God cares more about the plight of widows and the vulnerable than about greed and honor in today’s Responsorial Psalms.
Verse 7 of Psalm 146 reads “God secures justice for the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.”
And again in Verse 9 of Psalm 146: “God protects the resident alien and comes to the aid of the orphan and widow.”
Today’s readings may offer a different interpretation of the widow’s mite, than sacrificial giving. If God does not command that we give everything we have, then why is the widow lifted up as an example?
This story draws our attention to what happens when we lose sight of God’s priorities and allow unjust systems of oppression, greed to exist:
when we turn deaf ears to the call to mercy and caring for the least of these,
when we are more concerned with buildings made of fine stones, and honor, and the best seats
when there is pressure, explicit or not, to support church and charity, regardless of how it would affect you.
Was the widow giving out of the goodness of her heart?
Or did she feel the pressure from the religious authorities to offer her last coin?
It may be that the widow was an example of what is wrong with a system where its leaders prioritize their own honor and greed at the expense of the poor and vulnerable.
Today’s gospel urges us to dismantle unjust systems that oppress the vulnerable, and replace them with the merciful provision and sharing of God’s blessings with those who need it the most. Replacing unjust systems is slow, difficult work. Trust that God will reveal what steps each one of us is called to take.
This month, consider sharing God’s blessings with the “Food Not Bombs” organization. Here is the link: http://foodnotbombs.net.