Small but significant

The widow places her offering in the treasury. Jesus appreciates the act of love:

I tell you solemnly, this poor widow has put more in more than all who have contributed to the treasury (Mark 12).

The temple was a huge building:

315 metres on the north side. 460 metres on the east side. 485 metres on the west side. 280 metres on the south side.

It was 30 metres high and the foundations 20 metres deep.

Compare it to St. Peter’s Basilica, which sits 20,000 people, stands 60,000 people:

220 metres long. 150 metres wide. 136 metres high.

Entering these grand buildings is interesting. A friend once said to me, ‘you feel small, but not insignificant.’

Is this the purpose of such sacred buildings? I wonder.

We are not left wondering, however, by Jesus’ actions in this magnificent scene. Mark says:

Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the treasury.

The Gospels always seem to have Jesus on the move. Mark especially loves to use the word ‘immediately’ to describe the ministry of Jesus.

Here, however, we have him sitting and watching:

We feel small but significant.

That’s important.

Amen.