At that time: Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, ‘Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.’

The Lord never looks at the amount we give, but at the quality of the heart with which it is offered. The poor widow gave very little in the eyes of the world, but in God’s eyes it was an immense gift—because she gave what she had, not what she could spare.
This is precisely what God asks of us in marriage: true love is not measured by grand, occasional gestures, but by the humble, sincere, daily giving of ourselves.
In married life, one of the two may often feel like that widow—short on time, energy, and strength, weighed down by worries and responsibilities. And yet, when even in that state one offers a genuine smile, a kind word, a gesture of tenderness, or a small act of service, that “tiny offering” becomes something infinitely valuable. It is giving from poverty, not from abundance.
There are also times when we keep certain “reserves”: time we don’t share, emotions we hide, chores we leave to the other, inner spaces we refuse to open. Jesus reminds us that conjugal love grows when we learn to give not only what costs us nothing, but what truly means something to us. That kind of giving is fruitful.
In marriage, as in this Gospel, the small, faithful gestures of everyday love are worth far more than a hundred occasional displays of affection. For greatness in married life lies not in the quantity of what we give, but in the wholeness of the heart with which we give it.

Applied to Married Life

Mary: I was reading about the widow who gave her two small coins, and I thought, “That’s me—coming home with two drops of energy left in the tank!”
James: Well, I receive those two drops like they’re liquid gold—better than a double espresso.
Mary: Don’t be so sure… sometimes I’m so tired that all I can manage is half a smile and an “I’ll talk to you later.” That’s my version of the two coins.
James: And I’m still delighted, because that half-smile is a total investment—with no return expected.
Mary: And what about you? There are days when your contribution to our marriage is… shall we say… “symbolic.”
James: Hey now! My two coins include washing one plate, telling you you’re beautiful, and not complaining when I see the credit card bill. That’s heroic love right there.
Mary: So we’re basically the widow from the Gospel—just in the modern, married version: giving the little we have each day.
James: Exactly. And with our two daily coins, we’ll end up rich… even if only in patience!

Mother,

Mary, teach us to offer our “two small coins” each day within our marriage. Turn our small daily offerings into a great and faithful love.
Blessed be Our Lord and Our Mother.