Amen, I say to yu, the poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury...

Today Jesus excoriates the pretenses of the Scrubes and praises the widow...

The message is clear: Charity is not a show. It is a message from the heart, and God knows the secrets of the human heart.

Last week's reflection here was somber: so for a change of pace, here are excerpts from actual letters received by pastors: The first relates to today's Gospel:

DEAR PASTOR:

"i AM SORRY i CANNOT LEAVE MORE MONEY IN THE BASKET.BUT MY FATHER DID NOT GIVE ME A RAISE IN MY ALLOWANCE. COULD YOU PLEASE GIVE A SERMON ABOUT A RAISE IN MY ALLOWANCE." 

"I know God loves everybody, but he never met my sister."

"i LIKED YOUR NEXT SERMON. YOU SAID THAT GOOD HEALTH IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN MONEY. BUT I STILL WANT A RAISE IN MY ALLOWANCE."

"Please say a prayer for our Little League team. we need God's help...or a new pitcher."

"I liked your sermon on Sunday, especially when it was finished."

"Who does God pray to?  Is there a God for God?"

"How does God tell the good people from the bad? Do you tell him, or does he read about them in the newspaper? 

"I would like to go to heaven some day cuz I know my brother won't be there."

"Are there any devils on earth? I think there may be one in my class."

And finally this story from the golf course:

A deaf muted fellow approached a golfer and asked if he could play through.

"NO replied he golfer. Just because yoU possess a handicap, that gives you no preference to play through me.

Then the golfer teed up and hit a ball onto the green. When he approached the green and got ready to putt his ball, another ball came whizzing through the air, hit him in the head and knocked him out. When he recovered he looked up at the deaf mute who stood above him with one hand on his hip, and the other holding up four fingers.