First Reading (1 Kings 17:10-16). In the middle of a famine, a poor widow shares the last of her food with the prophet Elijah, and far from losing by doing so, she is enriched.
Second Reading (Hebrews 9:24-28). Through his death Christ has taken our sins upon himself and has opened for us the door to salvation.
Gospel (Mark 12:38-44). In the eyes of others the offering of the widow was the least, but in the eyes of Christ it was the greatest.
In biblical times widows were among the poorest of the poor. The widow in the First Reading was gentile, and she had a son to support. She was down to her last handful of meal and drop of olive oil. After that she and her child must starve. Yet, by sharing it with the prophet, she has an never ending supply of flour and oil. She represents those people, who, despite poverty and oppression, place all their trust in God.
In the Gospel, Jesus’ denunciation of the public display of the Scribes provides a background for an example of genuine religious behaviour on the part of a widow. Her example of true piety contrasts sharply with the counterfeit piety of the Scribes. The widow let go of every shred of security, and committed herself wholly to God. The story is as much about trust in God as about generosity. The widow’s generosity results from her trust in God.