Our Gospel Meditation this week is a story of contrast between true religion and false religion. On the one hand there is the proud scribe---the Old Testament lawyer--- who puts on a façade of religion while seeking privileges and seats of honour and stealing the property of widows. And there are the rich Jews, many of whom put a great deal of money into the treasury, but it is money that comes from their surplus.

On the other hand there is the poor widow who has lost her husband and provider and has only two small coins in her possession. She gives them to the treasury---all that she has to live on.
Jesus the teacher is pointing out to the crowds and to his disciples what kind of religion is pleasing to God. God blesses true religion which is not self-seeking and empty but self-giving.

I remember a story told to me by a priest a long time ago. He was on his way to the Church when he got involved in a minor accident. As he came out of his car, the driver of the other car became very abusive.

At which point he went to his car took out his stole and draped it around his neck. Then he turned to the man and said I am a Catholic priest. At which point the man began to apologise and took liability for the accident.

He used his authority as a priest for his own gain. Jesus identifies some people whose religion is a show, because they focus on externals and not on their inner attitude to God. For example, Church leaders who are in positions of power and take advantage of the poor and vulnerable. Their religion is making a show.

He emphasises how God looks upon those who take advantage of the vulnerable, defenceless persons especially in the name of religion—the more severe will be the sentence they receive. Sometimes we feel like a poor widow with very little to give; only two small coins. The question is, are we willing to give to God these coins-- all that we possess, all that we have to live on?

It is generosity of heart that God desires from us. To give our all to him is worth more that all the leftovers of those who are rich in time, talent and treasure. If a penny is all we have to offer let us give our penny. In giving all we have, we have given more than all who have contributed to the treasury out of their surplus.

Money can buy us many things—material things, positions of power and authority but not a place in the Kingdom of God. God wants our heart--the best we have to give.

In our churches today whom do we recognise—whom do we notice? Do we notice the poor widows who give their all, or the rich who can give large donations to the fund-raising ventures but are not available for real sacrificial service and sharing with the little ones.

In our parish communities we see poor widows who give their two small coins—to clean the church; prepare the sanctuary; launder the altar cloths. They are the little ones who are hardly noticed. But these are the one to whom Jesus is drawn-- the ones he notices.

There are others who feel that their penny is too little to do anything with and so are unwilling to volunteer their service. They believe that to be humble is to believe that they have nothing to offer like the rich and talented people, because they are little. Jesus says the poor widow has put more in than all the rich who have contributed. She is rich in the sight of God.

We need to be honest with ourselves and examine our attitude to God. Are we giving God leftovers or are we giving our all?
Jesus makes it clear to us that the important thing in giving is our generosity of hearts—sacrificial giving regardless of how little we have in time, talent and treasure.

In our country there is so much wealth—some people are filthy rich and others dirt poor. Yet many times it is the poor who reach out to help others –to take another child into their humble home—to take care of old parents and even neighbours.

On the other hand the more wealthy often put their old parents in a home for the aged which they can afford to pay for from their surplus.
Let us give our penny to God with generous hearts and spirit.

Let us pray:
Lord, we thank you for the poor widows in our parishes and in our country, who give all they have, many times without any appreciation.
We ask your forgiveness for using our positions of leadership as a way to receive rewards
We pray that our prayers and service may not be empty show but may come from a heart that desires to please God and to give God all that we possess.

Gospel Meditations for November are by Linda Wyke. An active member of the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, San Fernando, Linda, a mother and grandmother, is a former Archdiocesan Director of Religious Education.