Reading 1
2 Tm 4:1-8
Beloved:
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus,
who will judge the living and the dead,
and by his appearing and his kingly power:
proclaim the word;
be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient;
convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.
For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine
but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity,
will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth
and will be diverted to myths.
But you, be self-possessed in all circumstances;
put up with hardship;
perform the work of an evangelist;
fulfill your ministry.
Gospel
Mk 12: 38-44
In the course of his teaching Jesus said,
“Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes
and accept greetings in the marketplaces,
seats of honor in synagogues,
and places of honor at banquets.
They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext,
recite lengthy prayers.
They will receive a very severe condemnation.”
He sat down opposite the treasury
and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury.
Many rich people put in large sums.
A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.
Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them,
“Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more
than all the other contributors to the treasury.
For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had,
her whole livelihood.”
Meditation: 2 Timothy 4:1-8
I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me. (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
No one can challenge these words of Paul’s. He had indeed “competed well” and “finished the race.” Just think of his numerous missionary journeys, his tireless labor in spreading the gospel, and the careful way he built the church. Paul definitely earned a crown of righteousness. But is that crown reserved only for those who endure hardships and travel thousands of miles to preach Christ crucified?
Today’s Gospel reading gives us another view. This poor widow gave all her money—just two small coins—to the Temple treasury. She probably never preached a word of the gospel or traveled more than a few miles from her home. Yet like Paul, she gave generously out of a heroic devotion to God. Who can say that her crown wasn’t just as splendid as Paul’s? Who knows? Perhaps her love was even greater than the apostle’s!
Scripture tells us that God doesn’t reward us for our actions as much as for what’s behind them. It’s what’s in our hearts that counts. There’s nothing we can offer God that he doesn’t already have (Psalm 50:11-12). We can literally give away everything and even give up our lives, but none of these things will make us holy on their own (1 Corinthians 13:3). Only by uniting our works, our hearts, and our minds to the love of Christ can we be transformed.
God isn’t looking for superstars. It doesn’t matter whether you’re the most energetic person in your parish or whether you are shy and retiring and can’t even imagine preaching the gospel. What matters is your relationship with him. St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the patroness of the missions, never left her convent, yet she is now a doctor of the church. Like her, all we need to do is focus on God’s will for us: “To do the right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
“Jesus, I want to live for you. Help me to see you even in the most ordinary circumstances of my day and to unite everything I do to your heart. Lord, I love you—help me to love you more!”
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