## The Widow’s Offering
Very early the next day, Jesus went to the Temple—not to the usual place, but to the gallery where the Presentation of Mary had taken place. Near the entrance stood the alms box, a column about half the height of a man, with three funnel-like openings where those making offerings placed coins for the Temple service. Beneath it was a door through which the alms were removed. The box was covered with red and white cloths. To the left was a seat for the priest who maintained order and a table where gifts of doves and other offerings from the devout were placed. To the right and left were seats for men and women; behind them was a room enclosed by a grate, containing the altar where Mary had offered the Child Jesus. Today, Jesus took the seat next to the alms box; it was a day of offerings for all those purifying themselves for the upcoming Passover.
The Pharisees were greatly annoyed to see Jesus sitting in that spot, and when Jesus vacated the seat, they refused to occupy it. The apostles stood around their Master. Men approached the alms box first, followed by the women; they exited through the door on the left. Those making offerings waited outside in long lines, waiting to pass through five at a time. Jesus remained there for about three hours. Toward noon, the alms door was closed as usual. Jesus was still sitting there, which irritated the Pharisees once again. It was the same place where Jesus had forgiven the adulterous woman. The Temple had roughly three sections, one after the other, with three great archways. In the first was the round teaching hall. The alms box was to the right of this teaching seat, toward the sanctuary. To reach the box, one had to walk through long corridors.
The last person to offer her coin in the Temple was a poor and humble widow. One could not actually see what each person contributed, but Jesus knew what she had deposited, and He spoke to the disciples, saying that she had given more than all the others. She had given the last of what she had to buy her daily bread. Jesus sent word to her to wait for Him by the house of Joanna Mark.
In the afternoon, Jesus taught again in the usual place. That circular area was directly in front of the door, and to the right and left were steps leading to the sanctuary and from there to the Holy of Holies. When the Pharisees arrived, Jesus spoke of how they had been unable to lay hands on Him the day before, despite having the time, opportunity, and the determined will to do so; this was because His time had not yet come, and they could not hasten that hour. The hour would indeed come; but the Pharisees would not celebrate their Passover in peace as usual—they would not know where to hide in that hour. All the shed blood of the prophets would fall upon them; they would rise from their graves, and the earth would tremble with terror. Despite everything, they would remain obstinate in their malice. Afterward, He referred to the offering of the poor widow, and when He left the Temple that evening, Jesus spoke with her on the road. He told her that her son should come with Him, which brought great joy to the poor woman. Indeed, this young man joined the disciples even before the death of Jesus. The widow was very pious and observant, yet simple and faithful.
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