This Poor Woman has put in more than all,
Mosaic at the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo,
Ravenna 6th century
© Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna
This Poor Woman has put in more than all,
Mosaic at the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo,
Ravenna 6th century
© Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna
This poor widow has put in more than all
Mark 12:38-44
In his teaching Jesus said, ‘Beware of the scribes who like to walk about in long robes, to be greeted obsequiously in the market squares, to take the front seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at banquets; these are the men who swallow the property of widows, while making a show of lengthy prayers. The more severe will be the sentence they receive.’
He sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the treasury, and many of the rich put in a great deal. A poor widow came and put in two small coins, the equivalent of a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, ‘I tell you solemnly, this poor widow has put more in than all who have contributed to the treasury; for they have all put in money they had over, but she from the little she had has put in everything she possessed, all she had to live on.’
Reflection on the 6th century Mosaics
The mosaic we are looking at today was made in the 6th century at the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna. Spread across eight buildings from the early Christian period, the magnificent mosaics are now part of Unesco World Heritage. Ravenna played a crucial part in western civilisation during the 5th and 6th centuries and was the capital of the Western Roman Empire from 402 until the fall of the empire in 476. These mosaics are thus historically significant. They are a unique blend of western and eastern traditions, and the intricately laid out glass tesserae create glittering, magnificent chromatic juxtapositions illustrating many biblical passages.
In our mosaic scene, we see the widow putting in some coins into an offertory box. But to me, Christ's right hand is of particular interest. The first three fingers which are stretched out express our faith in the Trinity, while the remaining two fingers which are pressed against the palm, represent the two natures of Jesus, divine and human. This is a typical hand gesture often depicted in Byzantine art. An open right hand, showing all five fingers outstretched, is used more in Western Christianity when Christ is seen in a blessing hand pose. The five open fingers represent the Five Wounds of Christ and are also more of an all-inviting gesture.
Jesus says that the woman who put in two small coins had given more than the rich people who came before her. In a way, this is a summary of the whole Gospel… for God looks at the heart and at the generosity within each of us... and he knows our hearts.
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A very beautiful mosaic. What I find amazing is that it has survived all of these years and is still so colorful and vibrant. My stepson and his family were just received into the Eastern rite of the Catholic Church. Their form of worship and tradition are more closely aligned to the Orthodox but they are still faithful to the Pope.
Yes our faith has wide-spreading roots – ancient too, like this mosaic 6th century – wow! Many blessings on your stepson and family.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, The love, caring, and kindness you have expressed, and your prayers offered for me, may have saved my life. I felt your love and God’s comforting strength throughout the night. I am learning the meaning of redemptive suffering. I have learned to offer my pain and suffering to God.
I have a journey ahead to reach forgiveness and to understand why this betrayal happened to me. Where I go from here is a complete blurb. Through your gifts of encouragement, I will try to find meaning and a closer relationship to our Lord and savior. My journey begins today, starting with focusing on the goodness of this community and this glorious website.
May God bless you all, and thank you.
Mark
God bless you Mark- none of us can manage these things alone. I prayed for you last night and this morning. He will keep you in His care.
I could not handle it alone. May God’s strength come out in my weakness. Thank you SFG.
“Where two or tree are gathered in my name, there I am among them”. Beautiful and hopeful words of God.
We continue to pray, Mark.
Please know my love and gratitude for your prayers, Marleen.
I will continue to pray for you Mark as I include you in my Rosary intentions.
Hello Mark: you are so right to seek some space and solitude. Anger and rage (though completely understandable) will achieve nothing and things can be said which can’t be taken back so more pain is added. I sincerely hope you experience love from some source at this time – from the Good Lord of course, but other folk who love you. Your Christian Art friends are on your side with prayers.
This mosaic is spectacular and added to my favourites – Ravenna – must go. The old woman looks a lovely lady! ‘Obsequiously’ such a descriptive word. .. Jesus always shows that ‘show’ means nothing and what’s done lovingly in secret is what counts with Him.
Ravenna is beautiful. The mosaics are astonishing. You must go.
I shall put it on the list- the mosaics do sound awesome.
What a stunning mosaic! It looks so fresh. I love the detail of the sandals and the way the widow looks directly at us- she seems to be saying, ‘I gave all- can you?’
It is a challenging reading. ‘The more severe will be the sentence they receive?’
Do I give enough? Of course I like to think so, but here Jesus is saying it is never enough until it is everything…
Mark, I have just read about your troubles. I don’t know the details of course.
Read the prophet Hosea.
Jesus was betrayed and continued to love and forgive. We betray Him everytime we sin. He always takes us back.
Your wife is human too. Talk with St. Joseph.
I will have Mass offered for you both.
Dear Anthony, Your wisdom brings me to tears, the few tears I have left. I will read Hosea. I know I must forgive. I appreciate your reminder of what God tells me to do. I do not know how I am going to do that. St. Joseph, please guide me.
Bless you,
Mark
Dear Mark – I sent you a message on yesterday’s comments.
God bless
Carmel
Mark I have a message for you which I hope doesn’t seem facile but the betrayal that you have experienced doesn’t necessarily mean the end of your relationship. These wounds can heal with a good effort and prayer. And talk between the two of you.
Maybe a prayer and meditation on this picture today….
Wise words Charles. The counsel of good friends is another blessing in difficult times.
Dear SFG, the counsel of the good people on this site is a blessing. I read and reread your comments yesterday. It moves me that even in the middle of your storm, you were thinking about me. May I have your strength and not let my storm keep me from the needs of others.
With sincere appreciation,
Mark
Agree Chazbo. I have two friends and the wife discovered a betrayal that had been going on for years. When it came to light, he was penitent and she was forgiving. It can be done with God’s grace – but still not easy. They are still together now….
Deo Gratias!
Dear Patricia, I read and reread your comments yesterday and your beautiful prayer. I know forgiveness is required. I just do not know how I will get there. Trust destroyed shall be hard to reconstruct. For now, I am mainly trying to keep my pain from becoming rage.
God bless,
Mark
If you read the tradition around Our Lady the Undoer of Knots you will find it came about through a difficult marriage… maybe if I had known of this at the time my marriage could have been saved too.
Dear Charles, I have learned much from your daily insightful comments. That continues this morning. I have asked my wife not to contact me for a while, because I know my pain will cause irreparable damage. My pain easily turns to bitterness and anger and rage. I need time, space, prayer, and meditation to obtain any semblance of self-control.
A meaningful quote: “Revenge is not redemptive; it smears the soul with the same evil it seeks to repay.”
Thank you for your kindness and wise counsel.
Mark
Dear Charles, Thank you, and I know you are right. I will pray for that, but my spouse has chosen another man over me. I feel empty and, yes, fear and anger. The comfort from you and others on the CA site is keeping me from giving up hope. Blessing, Mark
These are the people I really admire and respect. To give all you have means to rely on the Lord for everything.