THE WORD

Rev 14,1-3.4-5 / Lk 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.”

IN OTHER WORDS

Every year, during harvest time, we do the “Blessings of the Harvest” in the villages of our parish in Benin, West Africa to thank the Lord for His blessings. We celebrate the Holy Eucharist, bless the people’s harvests before offering them during the Offertory. Everyone brings their offerings in kind or in cash. At the end of each celebration, we gather a sizeable amount in cash and several sacks of corn, yam, and fruits. These offerings are for the support of the mission and the Church.

During one of the celebrations, a poor, old and handicapped woman who lived alone in that village came and offered with joy some fruits and a small amount of money. That caught my attention and looked at her as Jesus looked at the poor widow in the gospel. She gave, from her poverty, her whole livelihood for the love of the Lord. A very touching moment for me and for most of the people inside the church.

The look of God, the appreciation of God, how different it is to the habitual look of human beings! God looks at things differently! The offerings of the wealthy people seem plenty and bountiful.

But, for Jesus, the poor widow has given more. May our admiration never center only on physical appearances and on the riches of this world, but more on the poor, the lost and the least of the society. We truly need to change our hearts.

• Fr. Teofilo S. Perey, SVD | DWST, Tagaytay City

The Word in other words 2016

An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.

	Production : Fr. Carlos Maria de Guzman, Jr., SVD and Staff of Logos Publications
	Cover Design : Malou E. Domingo
	Liturgical Calendar : Fr. Atilano Corcuera, SVD
	Production Consultant : Fr. Gerardo del Pinado, SVD
	Scriptural Texts : New American Bible and Daily Roman Missal
	Cover artwork based on photos by Fr. Bar Fabella, SVD
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