The other day I was talking to a rather wealthy woman who was bemoaning the fact that she was “taking quite a hit” in the stock market. I, of course, commiserated with her. Finances are no small matter for us as we struggle through to make ends meet. We want to leave something for our children. We desire to live comfortably in our retirement years. This is all well and good. There is nothing particularly sinful or even selfish about these desires, unless we exclude charitable giving from our financial decisions. This is the basis of Biblical command to tithe.
Our readings this weekend we call to mind the widow who forgot herself in her concern for the poor, and, thinking only of the life to come, gave away all her means of subsistence. The Kingdom is built of such beautiful acts of self-giving!