Widows are mentioned in both sections of this gospel. They represent the poorest and most vulnerable people in society. But those who “devour widows’ houses”, who multiply their sufferings, can be seen strutting around in public, even praying in public, seeking to be honoured. Such hypocrisy is hateful to Jesus.
Then Jesus sees a poor widow putting her last couple of small coins (“all she had to live on”) into the temple treasury. He is astounded and contrasts her generosity with the disposition (not necessarily bad) of the rich who made large offerings “out of their abundance”. Implicitly he may be criticising the religious authorities for the pressure they put on people to part with what they cannot afford.
Do I appreciate the qualities that can be found in the widows (and other poor) of my world?