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 but within  are  full  of  dead  men’s  bones  and  of  all  filthiness. Fill ye up  then  the  measure  of  your  fathers. You serpents,  generation of vipers,  how  will  you  flee  from  the  judgment  of  hell?”

While Jesus  remained  in  the  Temple,  He  saw  many  making their offerings,  and  He  noticed  the  way  in  which  each  one  made the offering. Several rich  persons  put  much  into  the  treasury , but one  poor  widow  put  in  two  mites. Then Jesus  called  His disciples and  said  to  them: “Amen,  I say  to  you,  this  poor  widow hath cast  in  more  than  all  they  who  have  cast  into  the  treasury; for they  all  did  cast  in  of  their  abundance;  but  she,  of  her  want, has cast  in  all  she  had,  even  her  whole  living.”

The most  important  Duties. Our  Saviour  says  that  the  most  important duties  are  those  of  justice,  mercy  and  faith. External religion must be  the  expression  and  practical  exercise  of  internal  religion,  which consists in  the  spirit  of  justice  and  mercy  and  faith.

Hypocrisy. The wish  to  appear  religious  and  God-fearing  before men, while  your  heart  is  full  of  ungodly  sentiments,  is  hypocrisy. This is a great  sin,  forbidden  by  the  eighth  commandment.

Good Intention. From  the  words  of  our  Lord  spoken  in  praise  of the  poor  widow,  we  learn  that  in  our  good  works  everything  depends upon the  intention. The widow  had  given  more  than  all  the  rich;  for she parted  with  her  whole  fortune. She intended  to  give  all  she  had to God. This was  an  act  of  perfect  love  and  sacrifice.

Are you  sincere  in  all  your  religious  practices? In your  confession,  do  you  look  more  to  what  is  in  your  heart, than outside  it? Do you  always  make  a good  intention  and  often say: “All  for  the  greater  glory  of  God”?