2 Timothy 4,1-8

I fought a worthy fight; I finished the run; I kept the faith. I have a wreath of justice ready. (2 Tim 4: 7).

No one can deny Paul’s words. He really “fought well” and “finished the run.” Remember the number of his missionary journeys, his tireless work spreading the gospel, and the care with which he built the Church. Paul deserved a wreath of justice. But is this wreath reserved only for those who endure hardships and travel thousands of miles to proclaim the crucified Christ? Today’s Gospel reading gives us a broader view. The poor widow put all her money—two small coins—in the temple treasury. She probably never shared a word of the gospel or walked more than a few miles from her home. And yet, like Paul, she gave generously, out of her heroic devotion to God. Who can say that her wreath was less beautiful than Paul’s? Who knows? Maybe her love was even higher than the apostles’!

Scripture says God rewards us less for our actions than for what lies behind them. What is in the heart counts. After all, we can offer God nothing He does not already have (Ps. 50:11-12). We can give everything, even give up our lives, but none of this will make us holy in itself (1 Cor 13:3). Only when we combine our deeds, our hearts, and our minds with the love of Christ will we change. God is not looking for superstars. It doesn’t matter if you are the most energetic person in the parish or a retiree who can’t even imagine preaching the gospel. It just depends on your relationship with God. Saint Theresa of Lisieux, the patron saint of missions, never left her monastery, and yet she became a teacher of the Church. We must, like her, focus on God’s will for us: “To do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God” (Micah 6: 8).