There may be no better example of trust and generosity than the poor widow in Chapter 12 of Mark’s Gospel. You know the story of how Jesus praised her meager offering of 2 coins. But it was all she had. She held nothing back. She models a mature discipleship for all of us. St. Paul taught in his 2nd letter to the Corinthians that if the eagerness is there, if your attitude is gratitude, then your gift is acceptable according to what we have–not what we don’t have (2Cor8:12). This widow shows us that it is not the amount that matters, but rather our intention.
This is who we are as Catholics. We are to give generous support—time, prayers, personal service, and money according to our circumstances—to our parish, our schools, diocesan ministries, and to the universal Church. We’re to do so in return for God’s blessings and in loving trust that He provides. And we are to do so gladly. God loves a cheerful giver (2Cor9:6-7)
How many of us give from our surplus? I confess that for too many years, I didn’t truly feel the impact on my budget of the $20 to $25 a week that I put into the offertory. However, I did continue to stress about my financial condition. But, when I finally gathered up my courage and took the step of faith to give intentionally, sacrificially, like this widow, that is when God gave me His peace about my finances and my station in life.
It is not the size of the gift that matters, but what it costs you. King David said in 2Sam 24:24 that he could not bring a gift to the altar that cost him nothing.
Generosity is not measured in how much you give, but by how much you hold back. Think about how much you give to the church and charities. Does your giving accurately reflect how truly grateful you are for the blessings and benefits God gives to you? Does it reflect how much you trust God to provide? What are you holding back? I encourage you, I implore you, take that step of faith – take courage, give sacrificially – and see if God doesn’t bless you with a sense of peace and joy.
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Wouldn’t it be great to have a straight-forward plan to follow Jesus right into heaven? I think that is what the scribe was asking for in chapter 12 of Mark’s Gospel when he asked Jesus which was the first of all the commandments. Considering that by Jesus’ time, the Jewish leaders had hundreds of laws on the books, the scribe’s question was probably his seeking overarching instructions on how to simplify everyday life. He just wanted to know the one thing he must do. 
Mark 10:49 Take courage; get up, he is calling you.
Biblical truth often sounds paradoxical. Teachings in the Bible can seem at odds with what we see around us. The Gospel in Mark 10: 42-45 gives us a good example, “Jesus summoned them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
In Mark 10: 17-30 we read about the rich man who asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus answers that he needs to follow the commandments. The man had done so. A deep relationship with God was obviously important to him. He had diligently kept the commandments since his youth – what his religion required of him. Yet, he knew something was missing. The man must have wondered that there must be more to it. And there is. One thing more. Jesus looked at him with love and told him,“You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to [the] poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me (21).” There it is – sell everything!