TWO COPPER COINS

They spent time getting dressed.  Picking out their best robe.  After all, they wanted to be seen.  How great it was to walk into the temple and be treated with respect.  Just last night they had the best seat at a banquet.  And today they would be in the most important seats in the synagogue.  They were prepared to offer long prayers that would make people take notice.  It was unimportant that they had taken a few houses away from widows.  They were the teachers of the law. 

She looked at the tattered edges.  But her clothes were clean.  Besides, who would notice her?  Only a widow.  That is what she was:  a widow.  If she hurried she would be in the woman’s court early and she could slip in quietly.  She could drop her money --- money?  It was not even enough to be called money.  What use were two copper coins?  She hesitated and wondered if she could, just this once, miss temple.  She decided if she looked at the floor she would not see the disgust in the eyes of those who judge what she put in.  Slowly, she closed the door, entered the street and became invisible.

Jesus sat opposite the temple treasury as the rich put in large amounts.  He watched as the teachers of the law made their way to their seats.  Then he saw her.  Bent over, trying to melt into the floor.  She approached the treasury, wearing the best she had.  Quickly she dropped two copper coins into the treasury.  Quickly so no one would notice how little she gave.

We know very little about the widow in Mark 12:41-44 and Luke 21:1-4.  Only four verses.  But I can picture the whole scene.  It is as if I am watching it unfold in front of my eyes.

Jesus is in the middle.  Calmly watching the people.  The disciples are off in the corner discussing yesterday’s activities.  The teachers of the law are making a grand entrance.  Others, the rich and the not so rich, are mingling and dropping their money in the treasury as they head to the different areas of the temple. 

It is then the widow enters.  Looking around she realizes she did not get there early.  She will not walk in alone.  She will be seen.  She will have to drop her coins in … she will have to drop her coins in and they will all see there are only two copper coins.  Only two.

The disciples hear Jesus calling them and they go to him.  Jesus tells them about the widow.  Jesus tells them about her extravagant gift.  Jesus tells them…

These verses on the widow’s offering are used often.  It is used to encourage us to be generous givers.  To give out of love and not show.

BUT –

I see this in a different light.  JESUS SAW HER!!!

The life of a widow was hard.  (The story of Ruth is a big exception to the life of most widows.)  She would not have inherited an estate.  Maybe a small settlement to help with expenses, but that would not have lasted long.  She had no way to support herself and had to be dependent on her son(s) or the generosity of the community.  She could only take the leftovers from the fields.  She could not easily remarry.  She would be invisible so people would not feel guilty about her poverty. 

Invisible!  But JESUS SAW HER. 

In her poverty.  In her tattered clothing.  In her humility of only putting in two coins.  JESUS SAW HER.

In that instant, Jesus saw her humble heart.  He saw her struggles.  In that instant, she was not invisible.

I wish Luke and Mark had told the rest of the story because I do not think it ended with Jesus pointing out this woman to his disciples.  I think Jesus approached the widow.  I think Jesus gently held her hands.  I think Jesus assured her that she was not invisible.  I think Jesus assured her that she was valued and loved.

And he assures us of exactly the same things.  JESUS SAW HER.  JESUS SEES YOU.