No one is so poor as not to be able to offer something

November 12, 2012 - "No one is so poor as not to be able to offer something," Pope Benedict XVI said on Sunday, adding that giving from one’s necessities than surplus is more precious to God. The Pope was speaking to pilgrims and tourists in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican before reciting his weekly midday ‘Angelus’ Marian prayer with them. He reflected on the generosity of two poor widows in the Mass readings of Sunday - the widow of Zarephath of Sidon from the First Book of Kings, and the widow in the Gospel of Mark. Both of these women, the Pope noted, were very poor, and in this condition they demonstrated great faith in God. During a famine, the Old Testament widow in a pagan territory, generously offered her last piece of bread to the prophet Elijah. Her generosity was rewarded as her flour and oil never finished. Noting the widow who offered two small coins at the temple, Jesus told his disciples that her offering was greater than that of the rich, because, while they gave of their abundance, the widow offered 'everything she had, all she had to live on'.
Pope Benedict noted that in ancient times the condition of widows was in itself one of great need, which is why in the Bible, widows and orphans are people that God takes care of in a special way. They have lost earthly support, but God remains their spouse, their parent. Yet, the Pontiff said, the objective condition of being in need, such as being a widow, is not enough: God always asks our free acceptance of faith, which is expressed in the love for Him and others. "No one is so poor as not to be able to offer something" the Pope said. He said the two widows are examples of the indissoluble bond between faith and charity, as well as between love of God and love of neighbor. Quoting Pope Leo the Great the Holy Father said, “No act of kindness is meaningless before God, no mercy is fruitless.”