Widow's Mite, James Tissot

BUT,  WHAT  ABOUT? 

PUTTING  YOUR  

TWO  CENTS  IN…. 

TODAY’S  GOSPEL:  Luke 21: 1-4

When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people
putting their offerings into the treasury
and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins.
He said, "I tell you truly,
this poor widow put in more than all the rest;
for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood."

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “But What About?  Putting Your Two Cents In ….”

QUESTION

Are we obligated to put our two cents in?

We’re at a meeting - and someone makes a comment that irks and irritates us, are we obligated to speak up?

Answer: it all depends.

It could cause more  mess than we sense necessary.  But if we don’t speak up - but speak up behind backs - afterwards - well then, maybe that’s a, “No no.”

We see someone on the street, begging for a buck, and we could give them 2 dollars and make a sacrifice of a latte, then maybe that’s a “Yes, yes!” even though we think we’re being had - by giving a hand out.

Or to take away any feelings of guilt, we put our 2 cents in the poor box like the widow in today’s gospel.

MOVING AWAY FROM COINS OR TWO CENTS

Of if we move away from applying this story to just poor widows putting 2 cents into the poor box, we might discover some creative ways of being a better human being.

For example, a grandmother says to her granddaughter, “How about next Saturday, we make raisin oatmeal cookies?”  Grandma noticed Priscilla wasn’t getting enough recognition by her parents and older sisters.

For example, a teacher spots in a kid - his or her ability to draw - spotting a drawing on the side of a test - and she goes to the art teacher and tells her about his kid - and this art teacher goes to the kid - and in time - this kid becomes an outstanding artist.

For example, Mrs. Malcolm did poetry in high school - but forgot all about it till her 60’s - till she picked up a book of Emily Dickinson’s poems in a garage sale - and she realized - even  though she was a poor poet -  she could put her two cents into the poetry mix of life - entered a creative writing course at the local high school - and has recited 17 of her own poems so far. Her husband doesn’t get them - but you should see the sparkle in Mrs. Malcolm’s eyes every Tuesday evening as she heads for poetry class.

CONCLUSION

Put your hands into the pockets of your mind - and see if there are 2 cents just sitting there - 2 talents there - 2 gifts there - ready to be handed out as you walk down the streets of life, the vestibules of churches, or the kitchen table in your home.