Mark 12:38-44

**i do not care what religion you are, what you believe in, or what you don't believe in. i am Catholic so i wanted to talk about this gospel but it's lessons are more than just about being Catholic, it's about being a person. during the Enlightenment, this thing called "Deism" came to be. Deism is a "theological/philosophical position" that focuses on reason & observation relating to a God. Thomas Jefferson created his own bible, The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth (a.k.a. Jefferson bible). it was basically him picking & choosing which parts of the bible that he agreed with. he took out the miracles of Jesus & anything "supernatural". all that was left was Jesus's life & his teachings.

whether or not you believe in Jesus, he was one of the greatest teachers. he taught people how to live morally, how to be authentic, & how to be kind to one another. so if that's how you need to look at it to read it, then do that.

"In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds,

'Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes

and accept greetings in the marketplaces,

seats of honor in synagogues, 

and places of honor at banquets.

They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext

recite lengthy prayers. 

They will receive a very severe condemnation.'

He sat down opposite the treasury

and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. 

Many rich people put in large sums.

A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. 

Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them,

'Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more

than all the other contributors to the treasury. 

For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth,

but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had,

her whole livelihood.'"

i've heard this gospel 3 times today- TNTT, adoration & mass. it is one of the few bible stories that i know. 

 in the first part of the gospel, Jesus gives warning about the scribes who act as if they are holy by praying long prayers, but are really just hungry for power/influence, not trying to truly serve God. this is "the wrong kind of religion"; it is using you status/recognition for your own gain or to boost your own ego, instead of using it to help others or "through humble service & love". 

in the second part of the gospel, Jesus teaches us that it doesn't matter how much you give, but how much of yourself that you give. he observed the rich giving a lot of money, but a poor widow gave 2 small coins. she gave the treasury the most, bc that was everything that she had. her 2 small coins were worth more than all of the money that they rich people gave bc it truly came from her heart, from her soul. she doesn't have much but she gave all that she could. quality over quantity. "real giving is from the heart". i think that this is important bc you might look at someone & think that they have more than you do, but in reality, you might have more than they do. you have more to offer when you can offer yourself. offering your whole heart, your whole effort, your whole love, that is worth more than anything else that you could give someone.