Daily Reflection

Reflection for November 24, 2025

The Arithmetic of Heaven

In the world’s eyes, the scene in the Temple treasury was a study in contrasts. The wealthy and important made a show of their substantial donations, the coins ringing loudly in the metal trumpets of the treasury boxes, drawing admiring glances. Then came a widow, invisible and insignificant, her offering a silent, almost pathetic, two small lepta—the smallest coins in circulation, together worth less than a day’s food.

Yet, it is this very woman whom Jesus lifts up as the model of true giving. He, who sees not as man sees, looks beyond the amount to the heart from which it came. He reveals to us the "arithmetic of heaven," a divine mathematics where value is measured not by quantity, but by sacrifice.

The rich gave from their abundance. Their gifts, while large, cost them nothing of their security, comfort, or future. It was a donation from their surplus, a gesture that did not disrupt their lives. The widow, however, gave from her poverty. Her two coins were not just a portion of her wealth; they were her wealth. She held nothing back for herself, placing her entire livelihood, her next meal, her very survival, into God’s hands.

In this single, radical act, the widow becomes a profound icon of faith and trust. She embodies the first and greatest commandment: to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. She did not give God something; she gave God everything. Her offering was not a transaction, but an act of total surrender. It was an act of worship that said, "I trust not in my possessions, but in You, O Lord. You are my provider and my security."

For us, this Gospel is a piercing examination of conscience. The Lord is not necessarily asking all of us to literally empty our bank accounts into the collection basket. But He is inviting us to examine the spirit with which we give:

- Do we give God only what is easy and comfortable, from our "abundance"—the leftover time, talent, and treasure after we have secured our own comfort and desires?

- Or do we give Him something that truly costs us—our precious time in prayer when we are tired, our forgiveness when we are hurt, our patience in a trying situation, a portion of our income that we feel we "need" for ourselves?

The widow’s mite teaches us that a small act done with great love is infinitely more valuable in the eyes of God than a grand act done for show or without sacrifice. The cup of cold water given in His name, the patient listening ear offered to someone in distress, the quiet "yes" to a duty we would rather avoid—these, given with a heart full of love and trust, are the two copper coins that echo throughout eternity.

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus, you who see the secret intentions of the heart, look kindly upon my poverty. You know how often I cling to my security, my time, and my resources. Grant me the grace to have the faith of the poor widow. Teach me to trust you so completely that I can offer you not just my surplus, but my very self—my needs, my fears, and my whole life—knowing that in your hands, even my smallest, most imperfect gift, when given with love, becomes a treasure in the kingdom of Heaven. Amen.