Today's Gospel in Art - This poor widow has put more in than all

Hypocrite, Digital Image by Xemrind 2018 © Xemrind

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 7th November 2021 - Mark 12:38-44

In his teaching Jesus said, 'Beware of the scribes who like to walk about in long robes, to be greeted obsequiously in the market squares, to take the front seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at banquets; these are the men who swallow the property of widows, while making a show of lengthy prayers. The more severe will be the sentence they receive.'

He sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the treasury, and many of the rich put in a great deal. A poor widow came and put in two small coins, the equivalent of a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, 'I tell you solemnly, this poor widow has put more in than all who have contributed to the treasury; for they have all put in money they had over, but she from the little she had has put in everything she possessed, all she had to live on.'

Reflection on the Digital Image

Our image, by digital artist Xemrind from Turkey, is titled "Hypocrite". It shows the different faces we all carry inside us. We all have a public face and a myriad of private faces, showing different masks depending on who we are with or the situation we are in. Ultimately, hypocrisy is the inconsistency between what we say and what we actually do. Probably one of the better quotes on hypocrisy comes from Adlai Ewing Stevenson (1900-1965), an American lawyer, politician, and diplomat: 'A hypocrite is the kind of person who would cut a redwood, set a stage and then make a speech about the preservation of nature'. Of course, we are all hypocrites to a certain extent. Jesus knows this and therefore addresses it time and time again in His ministry.

In today's reading, the angle He takes to condemn hypocrisy is to contrast a poor widow and the image the scribes are wanting to portray of themselves. The beauty of the poor woman who puts the two small coins into the treasury resides in the fact that she was not ashamed to let people see her for who she is. She was genuine. Today's reading is especially relevant in this day and age where 'image' is so important. Our television screens and celebrity culture demand that we look good. Maybe sharing a little more of our authentic self may actually genuinely help other people, and thus bring us closer to God.

LINKS

Today's story - https://christian.art/en/daily-gospel-reading/983
Christian Art - www.christian.art/