If you're following along with me the last couple of years, you know that we are attending a more liturgical style church now and we follow the Church calendar - this means that all churches, all over the world, that follow this calendar are reading and studying the same scriptures on the same day. I love that about his tradition. One of our pastors called me last week and asked me if I would share my reflections on the gospel reading for today. After a couple of mini-panic attacks, I reminded myself of my commitment to being brave and letting God draw me into new things - and I said yes. The gospel reading for today was Mark 12:38-44 - you can read it here.
So - anyway - thought I'd share it with my Musings friends! Here ya go:
This section of the gospel reading opens with Jesus teaching in the temple courts - I believe He’s setting up for His disciples an understanding of what they’re about to watch unfold. He speaks of the very real danger of getting caught up in "the show" or in power. God instituted the distinctive clothing that their leaders wore and they had purpose and significance, but they had gradually adapted, changed, allowed that to become a way of elevating themselves above those they were to be leading and serving.
Widows and orphans were among the most vulnerable at this point in history. They had no rights, no protections. God had instituted safeguards in His Law for them, but their leaders, the elite and the rich of their day, who should have been the ones to come alongside and protect them and see that they were cared for, did not. Instead, they used the loopholes of their law to take advantage of them, exploit them and gain for themselves personally off the backs of the poor. He gave stern warnings for those who made these choices.
He finishes His public teaching, and He sits down and just begins to watch. People-watching is a very human thing (one I can do for hours) and it brings me some level of comfort to picture Jesus plopped down, just watching - observing, and then interpreting what He sees. But it is also deeply spiritual. Our actions tell other people a lot about us, whether we want them to or not.
What did Jesus see?
The rich gave from their abundance. What they gave did not bring any personal discomfort. It did not cause them to have to trust God for their future in any way. It did not cause them to have to trust for what tomorrow would look like because of today’s sacrifice. They gave safely, publicly, for the show of it.
This widow, (among the most vulnerable in their culture, among those that had every right and need to hang on to what they had to provide for themselves and their families) -- this woman gave all she had. She put herself squarely in a position that would require that God come through for her, as likely no one else would. Knowing this, she gave.
She gave in spite of knowing it would make tomorrow difficult to predict. She gave in spite of the fact that it would likely put her in a place of even less safety and comfort.
Jesus saw all of this. No words were spoken, at least none that were recorded - but He and those with Him saw what each of these "givers" believed - by their actions. We can say we believe a lot of things. If our actions do not back up those words, people notice. They know what we truly believe by what we DO.
So, what am I doing? How am I giving? And not just monetarily. Is it sacrificial? Is it scary? Does it ever put me in the position that if God doesn't come through, things are likely going to go south? Am I willing to trust Him when I cannot see the end of my giving? When I can’t predict what today’s sacrifice will mean tomorrow? Again, not just money - time, heart, resources. Am I safe - giving enough that it still looks good, but it doesn't put me in a position of discomfort or living in the unknown.
Scripture tells us that true and undefiled religion is caring for the widow and the orphan. I say I care about them. If I do, my actions will reflect that. I say I care about the sick, the oppressed, the marginalized, the imprisoned. Jesus said He came to free these people. If I truly care, my actions will reflect that. Jesus said to love my neighbor - do I actually love my neighbor, or do I quantify who that is to free me to love those who are easier to love? He said blessed are the meek, the peace-makers, the merciful, the poor in spirit, the persecuted. Do I REALLY believe it? With my actions? John tells us that we’ll be known by our love - that is the primary marker of true Christ-followers. I say I believe that. Do my actions reflect that belief? None of my beliefs will be confirmed by just throwing money out of my excess at any of these things - perhaps money, yes, but also with my heart, with my time, with risk. Let me be really clear here: if my actions do not back up what I say I believe, then I do not really believe it.
I fear that too often, I look more like the rich leaders that Jesus said would face a judgment for their choices, rather than the poor widow, whom He praised for quietly proving what she believed with her actions.
My prayer is that He will mold me into someone more often willing to risk, remove the safety net and trust Him.
