Eucharistic Gospel Reading for Sunday of Proper 27: Year B
Mark 12:38-44
“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.” (Mark 12: 43 and 44)
I think the phrase “she put in more,” has to do with the ratio, or what part of what one has, that was given. Those who contributed out of their abundance surely put in more than what the poor woman did.
Giving to our house of worship is a matter of concern for our continued fellowship together. The widow, being a widow, has lost her husband. She really needs to stay connected, if just for the sake of her children. You and I need to stay connected to one another in Christ Jesus for the sake of our fellowship together. And that can’t be replicated anywhere else except in our own weekly meeting place.
Before our taxed based welfare system, the Church was the primary provider of the needs of the poor. And of course, our welfare system is structured to be responsible for how money is given. And because close scrutiny of how the money is allocated, rules are made, hopefully to ensure the real people in need are the ones who receive, based on their needs and our biases.
Maybe the widow’s story is the basis of our helping today. But this widow based helping leads us to not help a nuclear family where dad is still in the home. The underpaid are still in poverty and need help. Perhaps there is a need for the Church to re-visit our helping and consider all family situations as we plan to do the Lord’s work. Let us again remember the words of William Temple, former Archbishop of Canterbury who said, “The Church exists primarily for the sake of those who are still outside it.” We shouldn’t broad-stroke the needy base on how we think a family should be together or whether or not they sit in our pews. We base our helping on our love, and their need.
So, like the poor widow, we give a part, or maybe most, of what we have in the hope of maintaining a continued connection with one another in our unique Christian faith where indeed, all are loved and all are welcomed. We want our family here to be a part of Christ’s family in the loving care of God Almighty. But God Almighty loves all families whether they proclaim Jesus or not. Ours is not to judge, but to love, and to respond in that love in whatever way we can.
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, as we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us pray: A Collect for Sundays (BCP p. 98)
O God, you make us glad with the weekly remembrance of the glorious resurrection of your Son our Lord: Give us this day such blessing through our worship of you, that the week to come may be spent in your favor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
onewhoponders 