The Gospel isn’t meant to be gulped down on Sunday morning, but gnawed on through the week so it really becomes a part of us. You’ve got to work at it, like a dog with a good bone! Here’s the Gospel for this coming Sunday — the twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost — with food for thought about how we use the power we have. Gnaw away!

Twenty-fifth Sunday After Pentecost – Mark 12:38-44

Teaching in the temple, Jesus said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to
walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the
marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of
honor at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of
appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into
the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put
in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his
disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in
more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them
have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put
in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

The Backstory – What’s Going On Here?

This is part of a section between Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and his
passion where Jesus is preaching and teaching. Here, addressing not the
scribes but the crowd, he berates the scribes, an educated class of
teachers. Here in Chapter 12, there’s a real back-and-forth thing going on
with Jesus and the scribes! They have already been mentioned three times in
this chapter, twice as they argued with Jesus about the greatest
commandment and then with Jesus ridiculing their teaching that the Christ
is the Son of David. Now he blasts them again.  And he blasts them as much
for their internal motives as their external actions.

“The widow” is a key figure in this story. Widows are among the most
vulnerable classes. In Hebrew law, they had no right to inheritance so they
were at the mercy of the heirs of husbands’ estates and the charity of
society. In the first part, the Scribes — who desire honor and respect —
are accused of “devouring their houses.” In the second part, the widows, by
giving out of their poverty instead of (as the scribes) greedily adding to
their wealth, earn the honor and respect of Jesus. The message is a doubly
bitter condemnation for the scribes — and a warning to the leaders of
Mark’s community of whom to and whom not to emulate!

A few things to chew on:

*The scribes have positions of power and, in some ways, fame  — but
that’s not what Jesus castigates them for. He condemns them for their
internal motivations for use of that power and holding onto that power.
They love the trappings of power — and he contrasts it with their actions,
which are about using power not to help the powerless but to get more power
for themselves.  The widow uses some of the little power she has to glorify
God. What power do you have? What ways do you use it to bolster your own
reputation and to achieve for yourself and what ways do you use it for
others? Read this short passage from Marianne Wilson (quoted by Nelson
Mandela). Do you see yourself in her words?

it is our light not our darkness that most frightens us
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other
people won’t feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of
God that is within us.

It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.

*Giving out of poverty is not just about money. It’s also about acting out
of positions of weakness, not strength. Most of us are nervous about acting
publicly unless we’re sure enough of ourselves and our ability that our
actions won’t be ridiculed. The widow certainly could have not gone up to
the treasury out of worry that people would laugh at the size of her gift.
Where does fear hold you back from offering a gift that God has given you
— be it song, or reaching out to someone in need … or something else?

Try This:

The widow in the story is virtuous because her giving demonstrated a deep
trust in God. She was willing to cast away the only safety net she had and
trust that God would provide for her.

This week, take some time at the beginning of each day and consider a
situation in your life where you are being invited to trust God …. even
just a little. Where you are being invited to step forward in love, to take
a risk, to be at the mercy of things beyond your control.

Then offer that situation, that person, whatever it is, to God in prayer.
And pray for the courage just to love and trust.

The unexpected word

The unexpected word is often the hardest to hear.

It has been said that President Franklin D. Roosevelt was tired of the
typical small talk and flattery he received when meeting with adoring
guests at various White House receptions and was certain that guests really
weren’t listening to what he had to say.

So at one event, to see if, in fact, they were listening, as the guests
arrived and shook the President’s hand he smiled politely and said in
jovial tones, “I murdered my grandmother this morning.”

As Roosevelt expected, the guests simply gushed and paid the President a
compliment and move along. As the last of the guests were coming through a
foreign diplomat shook Roosevelt’s hand and heard the President say, “I
murdered my grandmother this morning.”

The diplomat stopped for a moment and replied, “I’m sure she had it coming
to her.”

The unexpected word is often the hardest to hear. We make judgments about
people and then limit the revelations they can give us by those
preconceptions.

If there is one common theme throughout all scripture — other than God’s
passionate and faithful love for us — it is that God always uses the
people we would least expect.

The Word of God is always the unexpected Word.

Who would have thought that a queer, runt shepherd boy would become king?

Who would have thought a widow with two copper coins would become the
model of generosity?

Who would have thought a refugee child would be God incarnate?

This passage is a story of virtue emerging from one who is most vulnerable
and likely to be overlooked.

Can you think of a story where someone confounded your expectations and
assumptions and demonstrated holiness to you?

Who in your life fits that description? Who in our community fits that
description?

Where is God trying to speak the unexpected Word to us? How can we make
sure we’re listening?

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Check out the rest of Sunday’s readings

The Lectionary Page has all of the readings for this Sunday and every
Sunday – click here for this Sunday’s readings.

Collect for Sunday

Pray this throughout the week as you gnaw on this Gospel.

Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and
fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace
so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we
may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly
love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit
lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Want to read more?
“The Text This Week” is an excellent online resource  for anyone who
wants to dive more deeply into the scriptures for the week.
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