Living with open hands

Today’s readings introduce us to the remarkable faith of two women—the widow of Zarephath from 1 Kings and the widow in the temple from Mark’s Gospel. Both are enduring desperate circumstances, but rather than holding on to what little they have, they give freely, trusting in God’s provision. They don’t cling to the small resources they have in fear; they offer them in faith. As we reflect on their stories and what it means to trust God wholly, we’ll also hear the psalmist’s call to put our trust in the Lord alone and be reminded by Hebrews of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, who held nothing back in His love for us.
Let's start with the widow of Zarephath in 1 Kings 17. Imagine her situation: she lives in a drought, with no income and barely enough food to survive. The prophet Elijah, whom she has likely never met, comes and asks her for water and bread. She is down to her last handful of flour and a tiny amount of oil. With that, she intends to prepare a final meal for herself and her son before resigning to starvation. Yet Elijah tells her to make a small loaf for him first and then promises that her jar of flour and jug of oil will not run dry until the drought ends. This request seems unreasonable. Elijah is asking for an act of faith that requires her to give up all sense of control and security. This widow faces a pivotal choice: to cling to what little she has, seeking a small measure of safety, or to let go in faith, giving all she has and trusting God to provide. In her decision, we see a powerful example of sacrificial faith. She gives her last bit of food, not knowing if there will be anymore tomorrow. But her obedience brings a miracle: the flour and oil are replenished each day, just as God promised. God doesn't give her an immediate abundance; instead, He gives her just enough, day by day. This widow's faith opened the door for God's provision.

Let's turn now to Mark 12, where Jesus observes the widow's offering in the temple. He sees the wealthy giving large amounts, drawing attention and admiration, but He also sees a widow quietly putting in two small copper coins. This was all she had—essentially, her life savings. It would have been easy for her to rationalize that her small offering wouldn't make a difference. Yet she gave what she had, holding nothing back because her heart was fully devoted to God. In her gift, we see a profound contrast: while the wealthy give out of their abundance, she gives out of her poverty. Her sacrifice was not about the amount but about her faith in God as her provider. Jesus calls His disciples to notice her faith, teaching them—and us—that the value of a gift is not measured in size, but in the heart behind it. Both widows exemplify the message of Psalm 146: "Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing." In a world that urges us to trust in ourselves, in wealth, or worldly power, this psalm invites us to look to God as our source. "Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God." Both widows had every reason to trust in their limited resources and to hold on to what little they had. But instead, they trusted in God, and He met them in their need. The concept of sacrificial giving is at the heart of today’s readings, but it isn’t just about money or material resources. It’s about living with a posture of open hands, willing to let go of whatever we may be clinging to—be it control, security, time, or even our own lives. This kind of faith trusts God even when we don’t know what tomorrow holds. It believes that God will provide, even when it feels like there’s no way forward. 


Hebrews 9:24-28 brings all of these themes to their fullest meaning by pointing us to Jesus, the One who gave His very life for us. Christ’s sacrifice was the ultimate act of love, holding nothing back. The text says that Jesus “did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands… but he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.”  He sacrificed once, and for all, putting Himself in the place of sinners. By this single act of sacrifice, He opened the way for us to come near to God. In giving all, He showed us that true faith means being willing to surrender everything we are and everything we have to God, trusting that in Him, we find our life and our salvation. Reflecting on these readings, we are left with the question: How can we live lives of open-handed faith? How can we let go of our fears and put our trust fully in God? Living sacrificially doesn’t necessarily mean giving away all our possessions or moving to a far-off land; it means living in a way that our hearts and hands are open to God, willing to be used for His purpose. When we live this way, we open ourselves to experiencing God’s provision in profound and unexpected ways. Both widows teach us something powerful about faith. Their situations were precarious, yet they believed that God was trustworthy. They didn’t hold on to their last resources in fear; instead, they offered them up in faith. As a result, they experienced God’s care and provision in ways that transformed their lives. Like them, we too are invited to live lives of faith, not clinging to what we have but trusting that God will meet our needs.

As we come to the close of this reflection, let us remember that each of us has something we can offer. It may not be much by the world’s standards, but when offered in faith, it becomes a gift of incalculable value. Let us ask ourselves: what is God calling us to release today? Is it our fear, our need for control, or perhaps even our comfort? As we bring these offerings to the Lord, let us trust that He will provide, just as He did for the widow of Zarephath and the widow in the temple.
Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we thank You for these powerful examples of faith. Help us to live with open hands, releasing all that we cling to in fear. Teach us to trust You fully, knowing that You are our provider and our hope. May we live lives of sacrificial faith, walking in the footsteps of Jesus, who gave everything for us. In His name, we pray. Amen.



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