Seeking to Love Rather Than to Be Loved – Your Weekly Reflection from CMMB

“For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.”
—Mark 12:44

In today’s Gospel, Jesus acknowledges the generosity of a poor widow who makes the smallest of contributions to the treasury—two coins of little value. Even though she gives a lesser amount, her small coins require a greater sacrifice than the large amounts contributed by those who were rich.

To give when one has so little reflects a strong trust in God. In order to be generous like the poor widow, we must have trust that God will take care of us, even if we share all that we have with others.

Lunza Pumulo was only 18 years old when her sister died, leaving behind Nambao, a 3-year-old orphan boy. Like the widow in today’s reading, Lunza had very little, but she took on the care of this child as if he were hers. She later went on to have a child of her own, and now looks after both of them.

Food is scarce in the remote village where they live, and the two boys are sickly and malnourished. Lunza does laundry and field work to earn some money, but her income is unreliable. There are many days when they only have one meal.

“When you have a mother, you have something. Nambao doesn’t have a mother—I am all he has left in the world. I don’t have much to give, but I try to be that for him.”
—Lunza

Lunza reminds us that giving from our livelihood is not only an act of generosity, it is also an act of trust in God. Let us pray for a deeper trust in God so that we can be there for those who need us.

In grace and peace,
CMMB – Healthier Lives Worldwide

This post was inspired by the Loyola Press Sunday Connection.