Pentecost 25
– Proper 27
November 11, 2018
Mark 12:38-44
O God, so rule and govern
our hearts and minds by Your Holy Spirit that, being ever mindful of the end of
all things and Your just judgment, we may be stirred up to holiness of living
here and dwell with You forever hereafter; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our
Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and
forever.
Jesus warns the disciples
against the scribes, “For in their greed
they devour widow’s houses.” By contrast, we see an impoverished widow. Who
places two of the smallest coins, worth a penny, into the temple’s treasury.
In the weeks leading up to
this morning’s gospel what has Jesus encountered?
We
have learned that…Our Lord condemns – The scribes and Pharisees. For their hypocrisy.
By their traditions, they had destroyed the commandment, which requires
children to honor their father and mother, teaching them to find excuse from
helping their parents. “For in their
greed they devour widow’s houses.”
The Law of Moses required His
people to “honor” their parents. That term “honor” did not suggest mere “lip
service”; it included the idea of caring for them in their various needs.
However, they had concocted a scheme to avoid this specific responsibility.
Jesus takes issues with the
religious elitists and their false and petty piety - specifically concerning
the care of parents - when He says, “You neatly reject the commandment of God
in order to set up your tradition. Mark
7:10 For Moses
said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever
insults his father or mother must be put to death.’ 11 But
you say that if anyone tells his father or mother, ‘Whatever help you would
have received from me is now corban’ (that is, a gift for
God), 12 then you no longer permit him to do
anything for his father or mother. 13 Thus you
nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do
many things like this.” (Vv.9-13)
A rich young man approaches
Jesus asking Him, “What must I do to inherit salvation?” Jesus responds, “You
know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, (#5) Do not commit adultery, (#6) Do not
steal, (#7) Do not bear false witness, (#8) Do not defraud, (#9-10) Honor your
father and mother. (#4)’” (Mark
10:17)
Notice what is happening
here. Jesus lists the commandments from #5-10 and circles back to #4. Reason
why? The man was defrauding his parents.
And he said to him, “Teacher,
all these I have kept from my youth.”
And Jesus, looking at him,
loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and
give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened
by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. All he
had to do was sell what he had to honor and provide for his family. Yet he
walked disheartened and sorrowful because of his wealth. Wealth he had received
on the backs of his parents.
Jesus is sitting across from
the offering boxes. He observes the gifts being given. He calls attention to
the widow’s penny. In contrast to the million-dollar gifts offered by the rich.
He claims that she gave more than any other. She gave the most. Because she
gave out of her poverty. While others gave out of their abundance.
The heroine is an unnamed
widow. She needed the money more than the temple or the priests. It would be expected
that those who have should give. But those who have nothing – would not be
expected to give. But here is a woman. Whose total wealth - are two tiny coins.
Her net worth – a penny! Jesus singles her out. She is the example for us.
This widow. Is singled out.
She had given more than all the rich put together. She gave her whole living. She
gave everything! She gave. ALL!
A widow was almost always
poor. Because she had no husband to support her. There were no insurance
policies. No death benefits plan. No Social Security.
This impoverished widow. Why
was she poor? Back then. Most were poor. The widows were even more destitute
and deprived – of property and possessions. Impoverished and insolvent.
Overdrawn and in debt. She was broke and bankrupt. And, it could very well be.
She found herself in this horrible condition. At the hands of her own children.
The widow gave voluntarily
all that she had. She had very little – “two mites”
(KJV), “two very
small copper coins, worth on a fraction of a penny” (NIV) What she gave equaled to 1/64 of a Denarius– A
Denarius was one day’s pay.
Let’s do the math in today’s
dollars and cents.
According to a Money Magazine article dated March 15, 2018
we find that…
- The median household income for residents in the state of Indiana is: $50,532
- Divide that total by 250 (50 weeks x 5 working days = $202.12/day)
- $202.12/64 =$3.15
- She dropped in two coins = $6.30
Now she had nothing. Nothing
left except for two coins worth $3.15 each. She trusted she would be taken care
of. Even though the institution in which
she was affiliated was wicked; corrupt crooked criminal.
She gave everything –They all gave out of their
wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on. She had given more
than all the rich people put together because she had given her whole living.
Now she had nothing left! Yet, Jesus knew she would be taken care of by God, in
whom she trusted. For this reason her faith is counted as great! It was not the
amount of the widow’s gift but the attitude in which she gave. She gave as the
Savior gave of Himself.
Jesus is present where His
word is taught and preached. Jesus is present where the Sacraments
administered. When hymns are sung. And prayers said. But He is also present
where money is given for the work of His kingdom. Such giving is holy. An
activity that Jesus willingly observes. He observed that many gave much. This
poor widow - gave the most!
During
difficult times. Especially in times of hardship. You need to remember Christ’s
presence and power to save. The Savior still calls us to be witnesses for Him
in this world for He uses you to be His ambassador of peace and good will. As
we gather to worship, to pray, to meet the Savior as He comes to us through His
means of grace His message of life and salvation will encourage, strengthen and
comfort you.
Jesus does all the work, as
He points us to the place where our salvation was won; at a cross and empty
tomb. The Father is the one who lifts us up to Himself through His mercy and
grace. All He asks of us is to place our faith and confidence in Him and to
trust Him to do the work He has promised to do.
Jesus moves you to voluntary
sacrifice. By reminding you, that He willingly gave His all. His vey life for
yours. He left heaven's glory. He became poor for you. He freely bestowed on
you forgiveness. And clothed you in His righteousness. By renewing your minds
through Word and Spirit so that you give first yourself and then your money, as
thank offerings to Him. [1] By pointing you to His ample
provision of all your needs. [2]
Jesus is not dependent
on your gifts. Yet He has arranged to carry out His church's work through
people just like you. He encourages you to serve your neighbor joyfully.
Jesus
sees everything. He sees how much you give. And your giving is not
limited to cash. He sees how you invest your time. He sees how you use your
talents. He sees how you employ your gifts. He knows what you value. He sees
how you care for others.
Lord,
make me an instrument of your peace:
where
there is hatred, let me sow love;
where
there is injury, pardon;
where
there is doubt, faith;
where
there is despair, hope;
where
there is darkness, light;
where
there is sadness, joy.
O
divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To
be consoled as to console,
To
be understood as to understand,
To
be loved as to love.
For
it is in giving that we receive,
It
is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And
it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.[3]
Words
-1,500
Passive
Sentences -7%
Readability –79%
Reading Level -4.7
[1] 2.Corinthians 8:2-5; 9:7
[2] Malachi 3:10; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Philippians 4:19
[3]
Peace Prayer of Saint Francis https://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-faith/prayer/traditional-catholic-prayers/saints-prayers/peace-prayer-of-saint-francis
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