Luke 21:1-4

Gospel according to Luke 21:1-4

Jesus spoke this parable to his disciples: “The kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five of them were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. “But at midnight, there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No! There will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him to the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. “Later, the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you; I do not know you.’ Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

Reflections

Jesus and his disciples were sitting near the Temple where there was a donation box set aside for the people to offer their gifts into the treasury. A lot of people were passing by. Some were rich, who wore elegant clothes and gave large donations. Some were poor and offered smaller donations. Some probably hurried past the donation box without depositing anything. As the disciples watched, a widow came forward and she placed two small copper coins through the slots. The small change could probably not even be seen in her hands, as she tried to discreetly deposit what she was giving and continue on her way. Nevertheless, the sound resonated as two small coins hit the other metal coins already accumulated in the box.

The worth of the coins was not much. Other Bible verses tell us that one could buy two sparrows for a coin, or five sparrows for two coins (Matthew 10:29 and Luke 12:6). A copper coin was one sixteenth the value of a denarius, the daily wage of a laborer (Matthew 20:1-16). This gives us an indication that the coin was indeed of small value, half the amount of a daily minimum wage. Like other coins of the time, it probably had the face of the emperor printed on one side, and the value on the other side.

According to Jesus, this was the amount that the widow had to live on. When she contributed all that she had, he acknowledged her generosity. In fact, he set this poor widow as an example for the disciples to behold.

Isn’t it fantastic how Jesus has an eye for the little, the humble, and the subtle, yet sublime? He praised this act of generosity as greater than giving from one’s plenty. Jesus considered a different economy than the monetary value of the gift. He appreciated the generosity of the heart. Symbolically, when the widow offered everything that she had to live on, she offered herself entirely with mercy and generosity, in faith and through love.

Last week’s Gospel contained the reading about some having received many talents, and some having been entrusted only a few. Here is a concrete example of what Jesus praised as exemplary about giving away “everything” that one has. Symbolically, the widow’s actions showed that she held back nothing from what she possessed.

What does this Gospel text reveal to us today?

We may be entrusted with much or with little. Even if we have been given little, and we can do little, we can offer what we can do with great love.

Nothing goes unnoticed. Every good action remains, even if no person perceives it, or gives praise for it.

The value of the little returns and bears abundant praise and blessings for the one who gives it away.

We can offer everything we have, that is ourselves, by being present to others. We can give them the gift of our time, our smile, our care.

We can give out of love, faith, mercy, and generosity, and these actions remain recorded for eternity.