Fifth Sunday Of The Holy Cross - Sunday, October 12, 2025

The Heart’s Offering as God’s Treasure

“Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything-all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:43–44)

The Gospel passage about the poor widow reminds us of a profound truth: in God’s eyes, the value of our gift is not in its amount, but in the devotion of our heart. By human standards, we are accustomed to measuring everything by numbers, size, and weight. Yet Christ reveals another standard before God the purity of sacrifice and the depth of love.

At the temple treasury, people brought their offerings. Many gave generously and placed large sums of money, and from a worldly point of view, their gifts seemed the most valuable. But Jesus singled out a poor widow who gave only two small coins. To human eyes, that was insignificant, but to God, it was priceless.

The widow did not give from her excess, but from her need—she offered all she had to live on. Her gift carried not the value of money, but the power of self-giving. Here lies the deep mystery of the Gospel: God looks not at our hands, but at our hearts. This message calls us to reflect anew on our service, our time, and our dedication. We may do great deeds, but if they lack love, they are empty. And even the smallest act, when done with sincerity and faith, becomes a great offering before God. God does not ask more from us than we can give. He does not measure our devotion by weight or wealth, but by the purity of our hearts.

Today, when the world measures worth through numbers, money, and display, God continues to look into the depths of our hearts. He sees when we pray sincerely, when we speak a kind word to our neighbor, when we quietly help someone in need even if it seems small. Those small, heartfelt acts become priceless treasures in God’s eyes.

Let us make our lives not a race of numbers, but a journey of love, faith, and devotion. Let us learn from the widow’s example to give not from our surplus, but from the depths of our hearts, with love and faith. May our lives become not a testimony of calculation, but of love and sacrifice. May our heart’s offering become God’s treasure filled with love, faith, and humility. And may our lives shine as a living example that even the smallest act, when done with love, becomes of heavenly worth, as St. Paul says: “Let all that you do be done in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:14)

Deacon MIKAYEL MARGARYAN