NOTES for Mar 12:38-44
The widow's mite is one of the strongest images in the Gospel. It is the fulfillment of the law in any circumstances. The widow who gives all her money, everything with which food could be bought, is not inwardly counting on a reward from God. Her relationship with God does not depend on her well-being or prosperity. This freedom in relation to God is part of humility. It is a relationship of freedom and of standing before God, who cares for everyone. We do not know how to notice how much God does for us and how He does it. His care and love are unnoticed. But they are always with us. The temptations we encounter are only exercises for our heart and spirit. They are exercises in humility and faithfulness to the Christian path and to the sufferings of Christ. But nothing will happen to us if our faithfulness to Christ is strengthened every day by prayer and by the heart's striving to do works pleasing to God.