Gospel in Art: A poor widow put in two small coins

The Widow's Mite (Le denier de la veuve), by James Tissot © Brooklyn Museum, New York

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 10 November 2024
Mark 12:41-44

Jesus 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, 'I tell you solemnly, this poor widow has put more in than all who have contributed to the treasury; for they have all put in money they had over, but she from the little she had has put in everything she possessed, all she had to live on.'

Reflection on the gouache

I am often moved by the quiet heroism of ordinary people, whose goodness and generosity go largely unnoticed by the world. These are individuals who live their lives beneath the radar, never making headlines. I think all of our parishes have such people, quietly volunteering, working away, going largely unnoticed, yet contributing so much to the life of the church. It is often at the time of their death, that we learn the depth of their goodness. Families share stories about their loved ones, speaking of the simple, everyday acts of kindness that marked their lives. What makes these ordinary deeds so extraordinary is that they were done with a loving and generous heart. These are the true, unspoken heroes of our communities.

In today's Gospel, we hear of such a quiet hero, the poor widow. While the scribes made sure to be noticed, this widow would normally have gone unseen by others. Yet Jesus noticed her and called his disciples over to witness her act of generosity. She gave just two small coins, equivalent to a penny, to the Temple treasury. In monetary terms, it was a tiny sum, but in the scale of human generosity, it was immense. Those two coins were all she had to live on. Jesus wanted His disciples to learn from her selflessness , holding her up as an example of true giving. At this moment in Mark's Gospel, Jesus is in the Temple, having just cleansed it, and is about to face His passion and death. The widow's total self-giving, like Jesus' own approaching sacrifice, is an act of love for God.

Our gouache on paper by James Tissot, painted between 1886 and 1894, depicts the poor widow in the foreground. Her posture is bowed and reverent, reflecting her deep humility and devotion. She is clutching on to her baby, conveying extra vulnerability. She is after dropping her two small coins; we see her the moment directly after. The widow's clothes contrast with the surrounding figures, who are elaborately dressed and likely the wealthier people, making more ostentatious offerings. Jesus is seated with his disciples on the left and is pointing towards the widow's sacrifice. He is drawing his disciples' attention to her act of generosity, which would otherwise have gone unnoticed.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/mark-12-41-44-2024/