Little Acts of Giving

T

oday’s readings (1 Kgs 17:10-16; Mk 12:38-44) present us with two powerful examples of generosity from two widows who gave all they had. In the first reading, we hear about the encounter between Prophet Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. As he arrives at the entrance of the city, Elijah asks the widow to share her last bit of food with him, trusting in God’s promise to provide. But there is a problem faced by the widow who has only a handful of flour and a small amount of oil, just enough to prepare one last meal for herself and her son before they face starvation. She is so poor that they are already preparing for their death after eating one last meal with her son. It seems insensitive on the part of Elijah to add up to the burden of the poor widow. Yet, in faith, she obeys to share despite her poverty, and God rewards her with a miraculous abundance. Her jar of flour and jug of oil do not run dry. All three of them, the poor widow, her son and the Prophet Elijah had enough to eat for an entire year. In the Gospel, we encounter a scene from an ordinary day in the temple, where a poor widow, unnoticed by the crowds, quietly approaches the treasury. Despite her poverty, she places her last two coins into the offering—a humble yet profound act of faith and trust.

There are times in life when we, like these two widows, feel as if we’re backed into a corner. We may feel that our lives are stuck, with no hope and little to expect, even after giving everything we have. Yet, through the remarkable witness of these widows, we see that it is often in the ordinary, simple moments of daily struggle that unexpected blessings are near. The widow’s small but sincere act of generosity, though unseen by most, powerfully reminds us of the impact of giving from the heart. Even in our hardest times, there is always space for grace to shine through, showing us that hope can emerge when we least expect it.

One such experience comes to mind, a simple yet memorable encounter I had with a vendor in Kalinga Province. As we traveled along the highway, we came across a lady selling rice cakes. Something about her humble stall and welcoming smile drew us in, and we decided to buy a few cakes to enjoy on our pit stop. We savored the treats with appreciation and satisfaction, but what came next touched me even more deeply. Just as we finished eating, the lady approached us with a smile and handed us even more rice cakes—extra treats that we hadn’t paid for. These extras were, in fact, more than what we had initially bought. It was a simple act of kindness that gave us something more than anyone could deserve because the lady's action was overflowing with generosity.

At that moment, I realized that I was filled not just by the food we ate, but by the warmth of her gesture. Her generosity left a deep impression on me, a reminder that true satisfaction often comes from the kindness and humanity we share. This experience taught me that even in humble circumstances, one can give abundantly and that generosity has a way of filling hearts just as much as it fills stomachs.

For my second point, I would like to talk about the Eucharist. This kind of generosity we see from the two widows is what the Eucharist invites us to embrace. In the Eucharist, Jesus though he is rich makes Himself poor and as a result gives us His very self, holding nothing back, offering His Body and Blood to give us the richness of his love and grace. We are invited to look to Jesus' example of making Himself so poor—humbling Himself to the point of becoming a servant, an act that some may even look down upon. But it is precisely through this humble offering that His Father was so pleased by such a gift given from the heart of his own Son.

Pope Benedict XVI reminds us that the Eucharist is a “spiritual sacrifice pleasing to God.” Our “Amen” at Communion is a commitment to give ourselves entirely to God, just as He has given Himself to us. He has given himself to us in the form of two greatest spiritual foods. First is the Eucharist and second is the Word of God.

This brings me to my third and final point. When we approach the Eucharist, we are invited to respond with the same generosity as the widows in our readings, offering our whole selves to God. Like the widow, we may feel that what we have to offer is small or insignificant, but God treasures every gift given from a sincere heart.

In every Eucharistic celebration, there is a multiplication of loaves—a spiritual abundance that God brings forth from our humble offerings. For this multiplication to take place in our hearts, we must first come empty and open, ready to receive. Humility is essential here. There is a temptation to think that we are self-sufficient or that we have enough, but this attitude can close us off from the fullness God desires to give. He wants us to receive the true riches of heaven, but to do so, we must come before Him with a heart ready to be filled, acknowledging our need and longing for His grace.

In the Eucharist, God doesn’t simply give us bread and wine; He gives Himself entirely, inviting us to do the same. Let us come to Him in the spirit of the widows—humbly, with open hearts, trusting that even the smallest offering we place in His hands will be multiplied beyond measure. Amen. Fr JM Manzano SJ