Elijah the Prophet, by God’s grace, is able to do something remarkable with and for the woman in the first reading.  She’s a widow with almost nothing to her name, but her generosity with what little she does have, is transformed by God into enough for her and her son to survive for a year.  The message is: It doesn’t take much, on our part, for God to work wonders.  And God uses what is little to accomplish great things in the world and in souls.  Our Lord gives a very similar teaching in the Gospel.  Through the famous story of the so-called widow’s mite, Our Lord draws attention to what real generosity is.  The widow gives just a few small coins.  Her contribution wouldn’t catch anybody’s eye on the income statement, but her generosity is deeper than those who have given great sums, because she has given everything.  She held nothing back.  She gave ’til it hurt.  And that’s what we’re called to do as well. 

Now of course this parable is about money, but it’s about much more than just that.  It’s about our generosity in every aspect of our lives.  God gives all of us the mission to spread his love and his message of salvation in the world.  We’re called to do whatever we can, with whatever abilities and resources the Lord has permitted us to have, to build up his Kingdom and contribute to the salvation of souls.  We’re called to overcome our sins and whatever else holds us back, and be a shining example of Christian faithfulness to those around us, to lead others along with us to the true joy and peace of the Christian life.  Our Lord doesn’t ask for equally sized gifts.  He asks for equal sacrifice and equal generosity.  We’re given the encouragement today that God can turn the smallest bit of love and generosity that we might be able to muster, into a great harvest of spiritual fruit.  God counts on us to transform our little corner of the world that he has entrusted to us: our family, our workplace, our circle of friends, our parish.  Although what we can do may seem small and insignificant, just a few cents’ worth, we should never neglect to do what little we can, because God counts on us, he counts on that little generosity that each one of us offers.  He is ready to do great things through us, if only we will let him. 

If we can do nothing else, he wants us to show up.  He wants us not to give up.  He wants us to continue to try to pray and offer sacrifices and help those in need, and he will ensure that there is growth and fruitfulness.  Depending on where we are in our lives, that widow’s mite could be just to come to Mass, to return to the sacrament of confession after many years, to encourage someone to return to the practice of the Faith; or even simple everyday things: just being attentive and kind to someone at work, offering a smile, giving a helping hand, visiting a sick friend, praying for someone you know needs it, just trying to live a joyful, honest, authentic life.  God wants to turn these tiny things into sources of grace and even salvation. 

If we honestly embrace our own littleness, if we’re okay with only having a widow’s mite to offer, and if we rely on the power of grace, we will always be strong and faithful in whatever the Lord asks us to do.  The Lord wants us to give of ourselves, even for our own sake.  There is no deeper joy than the joy of generosity.  Giving ’til it hurts, feels great.  And it is in this generosity, generosity with our time, generosity with our kindness, generosity with our earthly resources, generosity with our love, that we will find true peace and fulfillment in this life and real meaningful preparation for the life to come.