Widow's Might

Widow’s Might      

Psalm 146; Mark 12: 38-44

Jesus is in Jerusalem, the center of the chosen people’s power and faith. His own faith. And is he rejoicing? No. He is in agony over the way the people have been manipulated by religious and political leaders throwing around the name of God and administering worship only to gain wealth and power for themselves.

Jesus will soon tell everyone who will listen that the impressively beautiful Temple will be destroyed. Then he will repeat again to those who love him that he will be sacrificed in order to shut him up, he has been rocking the boat of those in power.

And sitting outside the Temple he sees the televangelist pull up in his limo, the Christian network owners flying in on their corporate and private jets, tailor-made suits, imported shoes, sitting at the head table with the rich and famous; asked to offer the opening prayer that goes on too long, displaying his vast theological vocabulary. And how did he get here? By foreclosing on the widow’s property and reselling it. Jesus watches as the rich pour in large sums of money, a public display.

Then Jesus sees the widow, unnoticed among the finery and flourishes, pushing her way to deposit her meager copper coins beside the gold and silver.

Where does the widow find her strength of faith? Not from the imagined trickle down of wealth from those who sit in seats of religious and political power. No. Jesus states clearly what their relationship is to the people like the widow. They exploit the vulnerable to gain more power.

         But, you might say, these people speak for God and say they know God’s will for God’s people. Look how successful they are. Count their many barns. See how comfortably they live. God must favor them. Not so, says Jesus. They will receive not commendation but condemnation from God.

         So why does the widow still bring her all to the Temple? Why does Jesus take note of her? Because she is not giving out of love for the Temple and those who rule within it. She is not giving to keep the Temple building maintained. The widow is giving her all out of love for God.

         What God? Which God? The God of the privileged? No, the God of the Psalm. I believe the widow could have written Psalm 146. For in its verses is where the widow sees God’s presence.

         Whenever and wherever the oppressed see justice, whenever and wherever the hungry are fed, the unjustly imprisoned are set free, the blind see again, the bowed down are lifted up, the stranger knows s/he is protected, the widow and orphan are supported; there she sees God’s presence. It is to this God that the widow gives her all.

         Why do we give? To keep our established pews warm, to have the largest church in the area, to keep our beloved choir meeting and singing, to support our school, our farmers’ market, the building, the staff to serve our needs? No. We give out of love for God. We return God’s gifts to us so that others may be comforted by the words of Christ and the supportive presence of the Holy Spirit.

This is the widow’s faith, the widow’s might, the widow’s God….and ours.