The Widow's Mite (Mark 12:41–44; Luke 21:1–4)

The texts below are quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations; nothing is paraphrased.

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St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407)

The widow's two mites (on Luke 21:1–4) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://archive.org/details/CatenaAureaNewEdV5

On why the widow's small coins outweighed the great gifts of the rich:

For God regarded not the scantiness of the offering, but the overflowing of the affection. Almsgiving is not the bestowing a few things out of many, but it is that of the widow emptying herself of her whole substance. But if you cannot offer as much as the widow, at least give all that remains over.

St. Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376–444)

Commentary on the Gospel of Luke, Sermon 138 (on Luke 21:1–4) Source: trans. R. Payne Smith, 1859. Public domain. Full text: https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/cyril_on_luke_13_sermons_135_145.htm

On the poor widow who came in after the rich, oppressed by her poverty:

And so after them there came in a woman oppressed by hard and unendurable poverty, and whose whole hope of sustenance lay in the kindness of the compassionate, and who by scraps scarcely and laboriously gathered a scant and miserable provision, barely sufficient for the day.

On her two farthings, and how she who begged of others lent to God:

And finally, she offered two farthings: for it was not possible for her to bestow more, but rather, so to speak, she had stripped herself of all that she had, and was leaving the sacred courts with empty hands. Wonderful deed! She who constantly asked alms of others, lends to God, making even poverty itself fruitful to His honour. She therefore vanquishes the rest, and by a just sentence is crowned by God.

On why her empty hand carried off the crown over all the rich:

The woman offered two farthings: but she possessed nothing more than what she offered: she had nothing left: with empty hand, but a hand bountiful of the little she possessed, she went away from the treasury. Did she not therefore justly carry off the crown? Did not the decree of superiority befall her by a holy judgment?

On the offering God accepts and the shadows from which He turns His eyes:

For He accepts the sweet savour of the spiritual service, but turns away His eyes from what is done in types and shadows.

Theophylact of Ohrid (c. 1055–1107)

Explanation of the Gospel of Mark (on Mark 12:41–44) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Mark. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena2.iii.xii.html

On the custom of the treasury and the widow who showed her love according to her ability:

Now there was a praiseworthy custom amongst the Jews, that those who were able and willing should put something into the treasury, for the maintenance of the priests, the poor, and the widows. ... But whilst many people were so engaged, a poor widow came up, and shewed her love by offering money according to her ability.

On the mystical widow — the soul that casts in its flesh and mind:

that widow is the soul of man, which leaving Satan to which it had been joined, casts into the temple two mites, that is, the flesh and the mind, the flesh by abstinence, the mind by humility, that so it may be able to hear that it has cast away all its living, and has consecrated it, leaving nothing for the world of all that it possessed.

St. Bede the Venerable (c. 673–735)

Commentary on the Gospel of Mark (on Mark 12:41–44) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Mark. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena2.iii.xii.html

On the sure test by which the Lord distinguishes those who bring their gifts:

The Lord, who had warned them to avoid the desire of high place and vain glory, now distinguishes by a sure test those who brought in gifts.

On God weighing the conscience, not the property, of the giver:

for God does not weigh the property but the conscience of those who offer; nor did He consider the smallness of the sum in her offering, but what was the store from which it came.

On the mystical widow as the simplicity of the Church:

the poor widow is the simplicity of the Church: poor indeed, because she has cast away the spirit of pride and of the desires of worldly things; and a widow, because Jesus her husband has suffered death for her. She casts two mites into the treasury, because she brings the love of God and of her neighbour, or the gifts of faith and prayer; which are looked upon as mites in their own insignificance, but measured by the merit of a devout intention are superior to all the proud works of the Jews.

On the Church that gives her whole living, knowing it is all of grace:

but the Church sends her whole living into God's treasury, because she understands that even her very living is not of her own desert, but of Divine grace.