In his teaching he said, "Beware of the scribes who like to walk about in long robes, to be greeted respectfully in the market squares, to take the front seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets; these are the men who devour the property of widows and for show offer long prayers. The more severe will be the sentence they receive."

He sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the treasury, and many of the rich put in a great deal. A poor widow came and put in two small coins, the equivalent of a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, "In truth I tell you, this poor widow has put more in than all who have contributed to the treasury; for they have all put in money they could spare, but she in her poverty has put in everything she possessed, all she had to live on."

Introductory Prayer: Lord, give me the grace to be able to love you as the widow you were pleased to compliment during your visit to the temple. Draw my will towards the extension of your kingdom of justice and charity, the better to imitate your generosity and fulfill my baptismal commitments.

Petition: Mary my Mother, help me to "put on" Christ in my thoughts, words, and actions. If I have already attempted to do this many times help me to try again - now is a good time for a change.

1. "Beware of the Scribes Who Like to Walk About in Long Robes, to Be Greeted Respectfully in the Market Squares."  St. Paul in his own words says, "Beware of dogs, beware of evil workmen"! (Phil 3:2) This very demanding expression rises from the heart of Jesus. He uses it to speak of the inauthentic, sluggish, lazy and vain. It should be a wake up call for us all. We are called to be Christians 24/7. It would be a dangerous contradiction if we as Christians were to profess every Sunday with our lips that we are Christians (expressing our belief in the resurrection of the dead, life eternal, etc...) and yet live during the week as if we did not really believe what we were saying.

Drugs, "fun", sex outside of marriage, unbridled gossip..., all of these, blind the Christian from his mission. We cannot say "Yes" to Christ and then with our actions contradict every commandment of the Lord expressed in the gospels: "Love one another as I have loved you", "Be perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect", etc.

2. "A Poor Widow Came and Put in Two Small Coins, the Equivalent of a Penny."  Once we learn the lesson of authenticity and experience that only Christ is able to make us happy can we be truly generous. St. Paul acknowledges the generosity of the heart of Christ, "You are well aware of the generosity which our Lord Jesus Christ had, that, although he was rich, he became poor for your sake..." We know for certain that the Lord loves us because he was extremely generous; he gave himself to us totally without counting the cost. If we want to grow in generosity we need, like Christ, to tend towards total self-denial for the good of Christ's interests and the interests of others. True love which is rewarding in itself is a wellspring of true peace and happiness.

3. "But She in Her Poverty Has Put in Everything She Possessed, All She Had to Live On."  Christ doesn't condemn the rich. St. Paul says, "I have learnt to manage with whatever I have. I know how to live modestly, and I know how to live luxuriously too: in every way now I have mastered the secret of all conditions: full stomach and empty stomach, plenty and poverty" (Phil 4:11-12). Again he says, "...so that you always have enough for every conceivable need, and your resources overflow in all kinds of good works". (2 Cor 9:9). Christ demands detachment from all created things, all that we use. We need to be steeped in charity and generosity having little or much. We can have many things but we need to be generous with what we have. Authentic self-sacrifice and authentic living of our convictions and principles bring us along the path of generosity and allow us to become sternly rooted in God's will above all that we have and use. If this is the case then we will live St. Augustine's maxim: "Love and do what you please".

Conversation with Christ: Lord, I know that you are present; this meditation has made a difference. I ask you for one grace - through the love that you bear for me, I ask that you withdraw me from all tepidity and mediocrity. I plead that you take me away from the selfish reflections I coach myself with day in and day out. Help me be certain that you want to send light to my heart today, a special love that will make me act differently - more transformed into you in your generosity.

Questionnaire

1. Which of my actions does not reflect what I profess with my lips as a Christian? What am I doing to become more coherent in the practice of my faith and in my practice of the 1st commandment of Christ to love one another as he has loved me?

2. In what ways is Christ asking me to become more generous today? In my dealings with him? In my relations with those who live around me (family, friends, classmates)? What concrete resolution will I make now to be more generous?

3. What sacrifices am I running away from? What would be hardest thing, dream for me to give up? What can I do to prepare my heart to become detached from material things so as to better serve Jesus and my neighbor?