Today's Gospel in Art: The widow's mite

The Widow's Mite, by William Teulon Blandford Fletcher 1890 © Worcester City Museum, England

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 22nd November 2021 - Luke 21:1-4

As Jesus looked up, he saw rich people putting their offerings into the treasury; then he happened to notice a poverty-stricken widow putting in two small coins, and he said, 'I tell you truly, this poor widow has put in more than any of them; for these have all contributed money they had over, but she from the little she had has put in all she had to live on.'

Reflection on the painting

Today's Gospel reading talks about a lady who is not only a widow but also poverty stricken. It is a passage in which Jesus praises the humble gift of a poor widow. She contributed more than she could afford to. Compared to the rich people mentioned at the beginning of our reading, who gave large sums but still retained retained their fortunes, the widow put into the money box nearly all she had - with all her heart. We don't know what happened next, but we hope she was provided for and didn't die in poverty. Above all, the widow had courage: she was prepared to give her last pennies to the Temple.

Jesus pointed out the widow to highlight the great moral responsibility the temple officials have towards people like her. She thus represents also all the generous donors to the temple or our church institutions. The monies given can play a vital role in our Christian charity and spreading the Good News. But donations come with the responsibility to use the received monies, however small or large, wisely and with discernment.

Our painting from 1890 is by William Teulon Blandfold Fletcher. Son of a linen draper, he studied at the South Kensington School of Art, London, from aged sixteen to twenty. He painted charming genre scenes, such as today's church interior. We see a widow dressed in dark colours putting in her coins into the offertory box. One hand is dropping the coins; the other hand is piously held close to her heart. Her son, holding his hat under his right arm, is looking away. A well-groomed man is sitting pensively looking on. A book of Scripture is displayed on the wood carved lectern. What is particularly well rendered is the floor. The various coloured tiles added over different centuries are juxtaposed to create a functional church floor. The tiles reflect how generations past and generations to come (further highlighted by the boy at the very centre of our painting) make up our church.

LINKS

Today's story - https://christian.art/en/daily-gospel-reading/999
Christian Art - www.christian.art/