Gospel Reflection for the Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B.

Praise the Lord, my soul! (Psalm 145) 

The moral of the widow's mite has embedded itself deeply into Christian consciousness and here we have the original story and setting in today's gospel. The message is so profound that we do well to re-learn it  and take it to heart once again especially in this money-conscious age. Jesus emphasises the spiritual value of our monastery gifts, not their secular worth. God looks at the heart of the giver, the intention and the degree of sacrifice which the gift evoked. 

I remember from long ago the fund-raising slogan of a catholic charity, trying to collect funds to build a science block for a catholic school. (In a time and place before state funding.) 'Give till it hurts!! The funds were duly raised, the science block was built and the school is still flourishing and the spiritual lesson is branded deep into my mind. God gives the increase.