Today’s readings, especially the first reading and Gospel, speak about different kinds of generosity. In the stories of both Elijah and the widow and the woman putting small coins in the Temple treasury, we learn about the different motives people have for practicing generosity.
Of course, many people give out of genuine concern. For instance, they see someone who is in need and they want to help. They are concerned that the poor get fed and that the homeless find shelter. So they respond as they can.
Some people give out of guilt. They may feel that sharing what they have will somehow satisfy some kind of debt they owe. Perhaps someone is feeling guilty about buying some expensive clothing. That guilt may compel them to gather up some of their older clothes and give them to the poor or by being nice to the beggar who they meet outside the store where they have just shopped.
There are people who give because of tax purposes. They discover that they will be better off, come tax time, if they can show that they have given to charity. Such a write-off is beneficial to them.
Others give for show. There are people who love to be seen doing good things. They know that they will be honored and thanked by their show of generosity. Their giving is more about them than the recipients of their giving!
Finally, we know that many give open handedly to those they love. For instance, when it comes to their children or grandchildren, they will give regardless of whether they have adequate resources or not.
In both readings today, we see another kind of giving based on religious duty.
In the first reading, Elijah encounters a widow who has a child. He asks for a cup of water which she is willing to give to him. But he also asks her to make a little wheat cake to satisfy his hunger. She pauses because she knows that she doesn’t have enough to do this for him and to still be able to feed herself and her son. So she says to him, “I don’t think I can do that because we are basically down to our last meal. After that, we will probably die.” Remember that widows were among the neediest of society at that time. Even so, Elijah promises her that God will provide. So, believing the prophet’s words and trusting in God’s promise, she makes him the food and, behold, she has enough oil and flour to last another year. She gave out of sense of religious duty. She trusted God. And God’s promise was fulfilled for her.
In the Gospel, Jesus is observing people putting their donations into the Temple’s deposit box. In fact, the Temple had 13 trumpet shaped containers to collect donations for the upkeep of the Temple. The sound of the coins rolling to the bottom of the container probably reverberated in the area, announcing the charity of the donor. The more coins you put in, the louder the noise. It actually encouraged people to give for a sense of personal honor. This Jesus noticed when he criticized the religious leaders for doing everything for show.
In any event, Jesus notices a widow who gives two small coins— the smallest coins in circulation at that time. But Jesus praises her because she gives as part of her religious duty even if the two coins represent a large portion of her income or savings. She does this because it is her religious duty to support the Temple. She gives out of her need; not out of her surplus.
Both women; both widows in these readings give heroically because they are already among the most needy. The kind of giving they practiced required them to reach deep into themselves and to make a sacrifice which could have had dire consequences. But each widow operates with a deep religious trust in God. They fulfill their duty and, in turn, trust that God will do his duty and care for them.
As followers of Christ we are called to be generous. But that generosity is not based on the amount that is given— either in terms of time or treasure. Rather, true generosity is measured by the motive for giving. If we give because of some kind of return, we are being disingenuous. If we give simply because of our religious duty, we are not necessarily being generous but acting out of obligation. If we give because we feel guilty, our motives are questionable at best. So, what is the measure of true generosity? It is love. Love of God and love of neighbor are what defines generosity. This kind of generosity is difficult to practice because our motives for giving are usually mixed.
That is why the importance of these stories is not necessarily found in the two widows. Even though they give out of religious duty, there is a kind of giving that is even more heroic. That is the kind of giving practiced by Jesus himself. Jesus is the ultimate example of heroic generosity. He first offered himself as a payment for our sins. He reached deep into himself and gave everything he had— his very life— out of love for sinful people. He didn’t give his life because God told him to. He didn’t give in order to receive something better. He didn’t give because he felt sorry for people or because he felt guilty. He gave because he loves us. And, as our eternal high priest, he stands before God as our mediator, continuing to give to us and bringing salvation to those who need it.
These readings will probably compel some of us to reexamine the kind of generosity we practice. It is good to do that and to try to practice heroic giving based on pure love of God and neighbor. Even so, we will all fall short of the kind of generous giving we are called to practice. God cannot be outdone in generosity. God does not fall short of the kind of generosity needed to save us from our sins.
Let us thank our loving and generous God for giving himself completely to us in Christ. Jesus knew what it meant to give until it hurts. His death on the cross made that very clear. Now, let us celebrate that generous gift by sharing generously with others.