The Poor Widow’s Poverty of Heart

11-10-2024Weekly ReflectionJen Arnold, M.A.

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. – Mark 12:41-44

In today’s gospel, we hear the story of the poor widow who gave everything she had and became a powerful example of selfless giving and unwavering faith. This brief passage holds implications for our understanding of generosity, faith, and the nature of true sacrifice. Let’s explore further how the poor widow’s example relates to our lives as faithful Catholics today.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church places the story of the poor widow at the beginning of a section entitled “Poverty of Heart," stating, “The precept of detachment from riches is obligatory for entrance into the Kingdom of heaven” (CCC #2544). The word obligatory is key here, as it means that without detachment from worldly goods, we cannot enter heaven because, after all, we will not be taking anything we own with us anyway. So, think of your most prized possessions. Are you ready to let those go at a moment’s notice, just as the poor widow was?

Further, the widow’s act was not just about the amount of money given, but about the spirit in which it was given. She exemplified complete trust in God’s providence, demonstrating a poverty of spirit that Jesus praised in the Beatitudes. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). Having this type of trust makes it much easier to let go of things because you know that God will take care of you in all circumstances. The widow was able to give away her whole livelihood without anxiety over how she would pay for her basic provisions due to her faith.

The concept of “poverty of heart” goes beyond material poverty and speaks to an interior disposition of detachment within the heart so that it may pursue rightly ordered attachments to spiritual goods. The Catechism states:

All Christ’s faithful are to “direct their affections rightly, lest they be hindered in their pursuit of perfect charity by the use of worldly things and by an adherence to riches which is contrary to the spirit of evangelical poverty.” (CCC #2545)

What does this statement mean? “Perfect charity” refers to the fullness of love — both for God and neighbor. This is the ultimate goal of the Christian life to which we are all called. When we are too attached to worldly goods and riches, that love of material things hinders our pursuit of perfect charity by distracting us from spiritual growth, fostering selfishness or greed, and reducing our ability to give generously to others. “Evangelical poverty” goes beyond material deprivation. It encompasses a spirit of detachment from worldly goods, trust in God’s providence, a willingness to share what we have with others, and freedom from the anxieties that come with wealth. This "poverty of spirit" is exemplified by Christ himself, who "though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor" (2 Corinthians 8:9).

The poor widow exemplifies perfect charity in her generosity by holding nothing back, not even a single coin for herself. She shares everything she has out of love for God and neighbor. She exemplifies evangelical poverty in her detachment from worldly goods, trusting in God’s divine providence and care for her every need. It is also evangelical because her act is visible for all to see. While we are not obligated to announce our charitable donations, we are all called to live our Christian faith noticeably through our actions, without words, as an act of witness and evangelization to the world.

The Catechism concludes this section on the “poverty of heart” demonstrated by the poor widow with yet another powerful statement:

The Lord grieves over the rich, because they find their consolation in the abundance of goods. “Let the proud seek and love earthly kingdoms, but blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” (CCC#2547)

This statement may make some people bristle a bit, particularly if they have worked hard to build a successful career and obtain a level of financial security or even wealth. However, some clarifications need to be made here. Remember, as mentioned earlier, the Catechism is clear that the requirement for entrance into heaven is detachment from riches. In this paragraph, the Lord is grieving the rich who find "consolation in the abundance of goods." So, it is not so much that wealth is the problem; it is the attachment and misplaced love for what wealth provides. Instead, we ought to direct that type of love and attachment to God alone. Ask yourself: “If I lost everything tomorrow — my home, my car, my jewelry, my photographs, my food, all of my money, would I know I would be okay?” You want to be able to answer, “Yes, because I know God will take care of me.” That is exactly the type of detachment to worldly goods the poor widow exemplifies.

Now, let’s look at some practical ways in which we can strive to imitate the poor widow in our own lives. Keep in mind that these are merely suggestions for consideration, as everyone's circumstances are different. They can also be accomplished incrementally, taking baby steps along the way. The poor widow likely endured many life challenges to achieve such a level of faith and trust as hers. Of course, each suggestion ought to be approached both thoughtfully and prayerfully.

Cultivate detachment: Regularly evaluate your relationship with material possessions. Do you find consolation in certain things where it would be better to seek that same consolation in Jesus? Are there areas where attachment to things is hindering your spiritual growth?

Practice proportional giving: Consider your donations not just in dollar amounts, but in proportion to your means. The widow gave 100% of what she had. You do not necessarily have to give 100%, but can you increase the percentage? If your income increases, does your donation percentage increase? If your income decreases, is there something you can do without?

Trust in God’s providence: Strive to develop a deeper trust in God’s care for you, allowing yourself to be more generous with your resources. Is there some worldly good you feel you can’t live without? This is an excellent area in which you can increase the practice of fasting more often, such as donating food you would have eaten to the poor, for example.

Expand your concept of giving: Remember that giving isn’t just about money. Time, talents, and attention are also valuable gifts we can offer. The more we give of ourselves to others, the less we worry about our own self-interests; then detachment naturally follows.

As you read this, discern if one of these methods appeals to you. If so, try pursuing that approach to increasing your charity and detaching yourself further from worldly possessions like the poor widow.