Daily Word Of God
Mark 12:38-44
In his teaching Jesus said, ‘Beware of the scribes who like to walk about in long robes, to be greeted respectfully in the market squares, to take the front seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at banquets; these are the men who devour the property of widows and for show offer long prayers. The more severe will be the sentence they receive.’
He sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the treasury, and many of the rich put in a great deal. A poor widow came and put in two small coins, the equivalent of a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, ‘In truth I tell you, this poor widow has put more in than all who have contributed to the treasury; for they have all put in money they could spare, but she in her poverty has put in everything she possessed, all she had to live on.’
Today's Pointers on God's Word
As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?
- When we do good works, even for charity, there is a temptation for us to want to be recognized, even though at times we do not deliberately look for it.
- Jesus cautions us that such ways are not pleasing to God. The widow recognized her poverty and nothingness and yet, she gave all that she possessed without attracting any attention to herself.
- How pure are our motives in our daily living especially when we do good to others? Pray for the grace to be more God centred and to serve Him more fully out of love for God.