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.

Inside Job

“Inside Job”

I have to tell you that I like movies. Not any movie, I have some dignity, but I like to watch movies with popcorn and soda in hand. A friend of mine, after an interesting conversation, recommended I watch Inside Job. Well, last evening I sat down to watch it with my wife. After about 45 minutes, she had to leave the room and I had no interest in my popcorn and soda. If there ever was a movie that would prove we no longer live in a souled nation, it was this movie.

            It also reminds me of a sermon I offered before the recent crash that contrasted capitalism, Christianity, and democracy, or at least the ways they have been playing out in the United States. At that time I stated that often the ruling power in this trinity of American virtues was capitalism. Often, as a nation, we say that we are entering international conflicts to spread democracy but, underlying that public persona, economic concerns are at the core. I do not see us planning to enter dictatorial or communist countries where we are happily trading. If democracy was truly the driving force, we would hear of our strict and strong demands on Saudi Arabia and China, for example, to make their governments democratic. Cash trumps conscience. Dividends and golden parachutes erode what remains of our democracy.

There are any number of passages from multiple religious texts that relate to the way money and the love of money cuts us off from each other, from God, and the blessings God gives to a compassionate people and nation. After watching the movie, it was clear that those who are controlling the financial markets do not have a soul-based ethic as their “inside job.” Because you can read the religious texts easily enough, I want to offer something that was sent to me through the internet. It may not be from who it is proposed to represent but I believe the words have value and certainly relate to a soulful way of life. It’s called

Gandhi’s 7 Dangers to Human Virtue

1)      Wealth without work

2)      Pleasure without conscience

3)      Knowledge without character

4)      Business without ethics

5)      Science without humanity

6)      Religion without sacrifice

7)      Politics without principle

I now have a greater respect for the OWS movement. However, I believe true change can only come about after we let compassionate souls “occupy” our hearts and our decisions.

Just sayin…..