The Jerusalem temple tax was obligated to all Jews regardless of their social wealth and status. The Gospel reading of today introduces the origin of the term "widow's mite," which reveals the smallness of a widow's social status in ancient Israel's patriarchal society, so small that it was practically non-existent.

During earthly public ministry, Jesus was the champion of the "small people," not size-wise but social status-wise. Widows, orphans, lepers, prostitutes, tax collectors, and anyone with a physical bodily defect were considered outcasts and relegated to the margins of the prudish and sanctimonious Jewish society. It is these excluded "small people" that Jesus has deep compassion for.

The contrast between the temple donation of the rich people and the poor widow cannot be more stark. But Jesus quickly pointed out that while the rich contributed out of their excess, the widow contributed out of her nothingness. The two small coins the widow gave left her with nothing else to fall back upon except the mercy and providence of God.

For daring to risk it all in the name of faith, Jesus rightly judged the widow's sacrifice infinitely more than all the rest. Indeed, one cannot fail to realise the ironic pun that such a sacrifice turns the "widow's mite" into the "widow's might". Therein lies the wisdom of God and the foolishness of men.