He watched the people

One of the endearing things about the poor widow in this week’s Gospel Mark 12: 38-44 is the unobstrusive manner in which she puts in her two small copper coins. She did not call a press conference, nor was her picture on the newspaper, she did not give an interview. It was done without attracting attention. Yet Jesus saw!

So often we feel a deep need to tell someone of our good deeds. We say internally – but what if no one knows? We need affirmation and recognition, as if a hidden act holds less value if it goes unnoticed. Yet, the poor widow’s quiet offering reminds us that God sees all that is done in silence, humility and love.

It’s a powerful reminder that the true worth of a gift or action lies not in its acknowledgment by others, but in the heart with which it is given. In God’s eyes, those unseen, small acts of kindness carry an eternal weight.

Love is driven by a desire to give, to please—not to be acknowledged. When we love someone, we find joy in the act of giving itself, without expectation or need for recognition. Love compels us to put others before ourselves, to see their happiness as intertwined with our own. True love isn’t transactional; it doesn’t keep score or demand a return. Instead, it moves us to offer our time, our care, and even our sacrifices willingly.

When we love, we look for ways to uplift, to ease burdens, to show appreciation in ways that often go unnoticed, because love’s deepest fulfillment is found in quietly making life better for those we hold dear. In this way, love mirrors the selfless generosity of God, who gives freely and abundantly, seeking only the joy of our closeness in return.

When the poor widow places her two small copper coins in the offering, it is an act born of love, not obligation. She gives not out of duty, but from the depths of her heart, offering everything she has, however small, as an expression of her devotion. This kind of giving draws Jesus' attention, because it reflects the nature of God, who is love itself.

Her gift is significant not because of its material value but because of the love that compels it. Love alone can inspire such a sacrifice—a willingness to part with even the little we possess, knowing that true wealth is found in the joy of giving. In her quiet sacrifice, the widow becomes a witness to the power of love to transform a simple act into a profound testament of faith. Jesus sees beyond the coins; He sees a heart that mirrors the generosity and selflessness of God's own love.

A subscriber asked - ‘but why only women?’ probably because they are usually more capable of this love!

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