Two Small Coins

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

The rich men come in state and noise
to give their offerings;
the princes in their pomp and poise
show off the gold they bring.
Like children giving cast-off toys
they shed these little things,
but she who put in two small coins
has given everything.

The gold I have, O Lord, I give,
and all my treasures bring.
The pleasures of the days I live,
the simple little things,
the words of prayer I daily lift:
These are my offerings.
But you ask me for more than this;
you ask for everything.

Strip all these treasures from me, God,
and what is left to bring?
A mind distracted in its thoughts,
a strength now faltering,
a heart and soul in passions caught—
Are these my offering?
But this is what you say you want:
Shall I give everything?

Take then my weary heart, O Lord,
that daily sorrows wring;
the flick'ring candle of my soul
safely to heaven bring;
my body's strength, my mind's control—
all still such little things—
and yet I offer you the whole.
I give you everything.

The Widow’s Mite (Le denier de la veuve) – James Tissot – Online Collection of Brooklyn Museum; Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2008, 00.159.211_PS2.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10957531

Love the Lord Your God

The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher.
You are right in saying,
‘He is One and there is no other than he.’
And ‘to love him with all your heart,
with all your understanding,
with all your strength,
and to love your neighbor as yourself’
is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding,
he said to him,
“You are not far from the kingdom of God.”
And no one dared to ask him any more questions.
—Mark 12:28b-34

Love the Lord your God o'er all things;
love your neighbor as yourself:
More than holocausts and off'rings
this the law and prophets tell.
Not by ritual's right performance,
not by sweat and sacrifice,
but by love the door is opened
to the kingdom of the Christ.

East and west will come to dine there;
north and south will meet within.
Puzzled by the ones we find there,
we shall come still marred by sin.
Yet the Lord is rich in mercy:
When he's knelt to wash our feet,
he will bid us—hungry, thirsty—
all as one to sit and eat.

We are not far from the kingdom—
Why, then, should we wait the day?
Find the neighbors now and feed them;
straighten every crooked way.
We have heard the law and prophets;
we have heard the words of Christ:
Let this love become our off'ring.
Love shall be our sacrifice.

Christ Washing the Disciples’ Feet By Anonymous 17^th century Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash over charcoal? on cream paper- This file was donated to Wikimedia Commons as part of a project by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. See the Image and Data Resources Open Access Policy, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=60853459

Farthings

Jesus 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

Though your field lay fallow
'neath the sun and rain,
neither plow nor harrow
turned your ground to gain,
worked by none but sparrows
seeking fallen grain,
still Christ makes it hallowed
through the days of pain.

Bring him, then, your harvest,
yet more tares than wheat;
bring your merest farthing;
give him your defeat.
Your despair and darkness:
Lay them at his feet.
What the world has parted
he will make complete.

Come into his temple,
all you lost and least:
wounded, bruised, and tender,
tattered, torn, and creased.
You are still Christ's members,
prophets, kings, and priests.
Come into his shelter;
welcome to the feast!

A bronze *mite*, also known as a *Lepton* (meaning *small*), minted by Alexander Jannaeus, King of Judaea, 103 – 76 B.C.. and still in circulation at the time of Jesus^[1] Public Domain, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2917434

What Can I Do?

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him,
“Which is the first of all the commandments?”
Jesus replied, “The first is this:
Hear, O Israel!
The Lord our God is Lord alone!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.
The second is this:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:28b-34

You shaped the heart you placed in me,
a sculptor working dreams in clay;
its every moment, every beat
is mercy's gift for every day.

The mind that ranges far afield
beyond the limits of my form:
A gift your grace alone could yield
from your infinity was born.

But even if I gave them all,
I could not love you half as well
as what I hear within your call,
a love beyond what I can tell.

My body's strength is not enough,
and feeble is the love it bears.
Upon your shoulders rests all love,
and nothing in myself compares.

My soul itself, made most like you,
is but a drop within your sea.
Creator God, what can I do
with all the gifts you've given me

but love you, Lord, with all of them,
with all of everything I have?
Imperfect, faulty though I am,
yet let me love with all your gave.