I don’t think Jesus would have made a good accountant. When the poor widow puts in a few pennies into the collection box, Jesus declares that she has put in more than all the rest. Clearly, Jesus isn’t a CPA. Jesus, of course is seeing something in the woman’s heart that he doesn’t see in the others. I think we call it the “I’m all in” attitude. 

Today, let’s all consider just what you and I are “all in” for. The gospel highlights the fact that giving a lot when we can’t afford to give a lot, takes lots of faith. Today, many people find it difficult to trust the church when it comes to donations. Inside the church, like inside D.C., there are significant divisions. In many parishes during October and November reports on the financial situation of the parish are being given. We will have ours soon. This is a good time to pray about our financial “all in” as well as our “Catholic all in.” 

One thing to consider when considering our financial gifts to the church is perhaps best seen when we compare our expenses. In many finance planning apps or programs, there is a category called “expendable income”. That is usually the money you have left over after you pay all the necessary bills. Mortgage: check. Insurance: check. Food bill: check. Then you see how much you have for vacations, sports, eating at nice restaurants, etc. Here is where Jesus’ CPA wisdom comes in. He wants us all to be “all in” when it comes to our faith. 

Let’s consider a new definition of CPA. Let’s think of Our Lord’s wisdom as Catholic Percentage Amount. The two poor widows in our readings were “all in”. It’s a good thing they didn’t have husbands, because no man worth his salt would have let his wife put everything they had to live on in the collection box. But they did and Jesus approved. As a priest, whose duty it is to pay the bills of our church, I can’t ask you to put everything you have to live on in the basket. Everyone would be poor after giving everything so the basket would be quite empty going forward. Kind of like those who think making the wealthy pay “their fair share” will improve the economy. This issue has been around forever. And the church has forever encouraged something called tithing. 

Unfortunately, very few Catholics actually tithe. Many Protestant pastors actually ask their congregants to show the parish office their tax returns. I have always been uncomfortable with that approach. Since the 10% amount goes all the way back to Old Testament times, when there was no Social Security, no Welfare, no Government assistant programs, I am a proponent of the sliding percentage approach. Just having some percentage amount shifts one’s gifts to the church from the “expendable income” category to the necessities of life. Can you give 7%? 5% or even 2%? Imagine what the church could do if even this kind of tithing were popular. Even if you don’t like to figure percentages, could you give the cost of one nice dinner, or one professional sporting event or play, or new outfit you don’t really need? Lastly, but most importantly, when it comes to being “all in” with the Catholic church we all need to consider whether we are “cafeteria Catholics” or we are faithful believers who believe all that the Church teaches. In this regard, it doesn’t matter if you tithe to 35%. If we’re not “all in” we maybe building an organization to ourselves and not for God’s glory