Daniel 1:1-6, 8-20. Glory and praise for ever! – Daniel 3:52-56. Luke 21:1-4.

The Lord notices us

St Cecilia, the Roman martyr, is honoured as the patron of music. Little is known of her life but people remember she gave all she had to God, her life. The poor widow in today’s Gospel did not give her life, but she gave all she had, her last two copper coins. The Book of Daniel gives us a glimpse into the exile in Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar did not take all the people of Jerusalem. Among those they carried off were ‘young men without physical defect and handsome, versed in every branch of wisdom, endowed with knowledge and insight.’ They took the leaders and the wealthy. They left the poor behind. The poor widow of today’s Gospel would not have drawn a second glance from Nebuchadnezzar. But the Lord noticed. What matters is not being strong, handsome, intelligent and wise but whether we can give all we have to God.