"The Widow's Mite" -- by James Tissot |
FIRST READING:
2 Timothy 4: 1 - 8
1
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to
judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
2
preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince,
rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching.
3
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching,
but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers
to suit their own likings,
4
and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths.
5
As for you, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an
evangelist, fulfil your ministry.
6
For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my
departure has come.
7
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept
the faith.
8
Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which
the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not
only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
PSALM:
Psalms 71: 8 - 9, 14 - 17, 22
8
My mouth is filled with thy praise, and with thy glory all the day.
9
Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my
strength is spent.
14
But I will hope continually, and will praise thee yet more and more.
15
My mouth will tell of thy righteous acts, of thy deeds of salvation
all the day, for their number is past my knowledge.
16
With the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD I will come, I will praise thy
righteousness, thine alone.
17
O God, from my youth thou hast taught me, and I still proclaim thy
wondrous deeds.
22
I will also praise thee with the harp for thy faithfulness, O my God;
I will sing praises to thee with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.
GOSPEL: Mark
12: 38 - 44
38
And in his teaching he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to
go about in long robes, and to have salutations in the market places
39
and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at
feasts,
40
who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They
will receive the greater condemnation."
41
And he sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the multitude
putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums.
42
And a poor widow came, and put in two copper coins, which make a
penny.
43
And he called his disciples to him, and said to them, "Truly, I
say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are
contributing to the treasury.
44
For they all contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her
poverty has put in everything she had, her whole living."