In today's Gospel, we are presented with the powerful image of a poor widow who, despite her own poverty, gives 'all she had' to the Temple. This act of selfless giving is a mighty challenge for us who wish to serve the Lord.

During Jesus's time, contributing to the Temple was often seen as a public opportunity to receive praise rather than an act of selfless giving to God. The more one contributed, the larger the praise they would receive from those watching. In this context, the widow's offering, though seemingly small in comparison to the wealthy contributors' gifts, shines brightly as a true example of selfless giving.

Jesus sees the widow's offering not as meager but as magnanimous since she gives everything she has as an offering. Thus, Jesus challenges His apostles to learn from the widow's unselfishness rather than the treasures of the wealthy.

This week, let us meditate on the image of the poor widow; particularly, if we give our whole self to serving the Lord and His Church, has our offering been a mere performance rather than a practice of unselfishness?

My Lord and my God, through this poor widow and other great saints like Leo the Great, you showed us how to offer ourselves to your service; help us overcome what holds us back so we may be more like your Son who gave us His all. Amen.