She gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford – she gave her all. (Luke 21:4; The Message)
Remembrance Day has drawn to a close. How extraordinary that it happened to be on a Sunday we commemorated the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI, along with all the brave men who died for our freedom. When the Last Post began to fill the air during our memorial service, it brought tears to my eyes. A somber mood settled over me. I thought of all those men, and women, whose lives were lost during that terrible war. Foremost on my mind was my maternal grandfather who did not return home. Though I do not even know his name, I think of him with deep gratitude, admiration and sadness.
With a heavy heart I made my way to Mass. Distracted, I continued to dwell on those who laid down their lives for their country, for freedom, for us. Suddenly, I was pulled out of my reverie by the Gospel reading. It was the familiar story about the poor widow that got my attention: “Many rich people threw in large amounts [into the treasury]. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents” (Mark 12:41-44). This story used to be known as ‘The Widow’s Mite,’ in which Jesus commends the poor woman for her generosity. Perhaps a more fitting title would be: ‘The widow’s might.’ Eugene Petersen, author of The Message, wrote, “She gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford – she gave her all.” This got me thinking. It would seem to me, all those young men, and women, who died during WWI, much like the widow, gave extravagantly – of what they couldn’t afford. Their lives. They gave their all.
How often do we think to ourselves ‘what can I do?’ or ‘what if I’m not enough?’ Did those young men, and women, who fought for our freedom, have these doubts as they went into battle? What does it mean, ‘to be enough’? Is it only enough when we are wealthy? Or is it enough when we love wholeheartedly, ready to give our all, even when it seems little? Is it not so much that we have been given a ‘mite’ but rather that we have been given ‘might’ to love and give of ourselves wholeheartedly for others? Those young men who died in the trenches loved mightily with their whole heart. They gave their all.
Every Remembrance Day provides us with an opportunity to broaden our understanding of those who laid down their lives for our freedom. However, how might we broaden our understanding of the many things stirring within the hearts of the those who managed to make it back home? What do they continue to face? Many continue to give what they cannot afford – their all. These veterans may have recovered from their physical injuries; however, the psychological stress cannot be healed as effectively. Just like the poor widow, they continue to give what might look to some like a mere ‘mite’. Though the rich may place their ‘lavish gifts into the treasury’ it is ‘the poor’ who continue to give their all.
- Sr. Magdalena Vogt, cps