Today's gospel is the "Widow's Mite" gospel, where Christ notes the sacrifice of a widow who gives her small but essential contribution to the Temple Tax in comparison to the rich who are giving from their excess. In the Vulgate, her contribution is called "two mites." A "mite" is a small arthropod but, from the Latin root "minute," also referred to a small Flemish coin, worth about a half a farthing; a farthing was one quarter of a penny.
The Temple Tax was an annual tax among the Jews for temple maintenance; it was a half shekel, a silver coin originally based on the weight of grain and worth at the time about two day's the labor of a man.
The old British religious poet Richard Crashaw wrote this:
Two mites, two drops--yet all her house and land--
Fall from a steady heart though trembling hand;
The other's wanton wealth foams high and brave.
The other cast away, she only gave.
The Temple Tax was an annual tax among the Jews for temple maintenance; it was a half shekel, a silver coin originally based on the weight of grain and worth at the time about two day's the labor of a man.
The old British religious poet Richard Crashaw wrote this:
Two mites, two drops--yet all her house and land--
Fall from a steady heart though trembling hand;
The other's wanton wealth foams high and brave.
The other cast away, she only gave.
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