A large crowd was listening to Jesus gladly. v38As he taught them, he said, “Watch out for the teachers of the Law, who like to walk around in their long robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplace, v39who choose the reserved seats in the synagogues and the best places at feasts. v40They take advantage of widows and rob them of their homes, and then make a show of saying long prayers. Their punishment will be all the worse!”
v41As Jesus sat near the Temple treasury, he watched the people as they dropped in their money. Many rich men dropped in a lot of money; v42then a poor widow came along and dropped in two little copper coins, worth about a penny. v43He called his disciples together and said to them, “I tell you that this poor widow put more in the offering box than all the others. v44For the others put in what they had to spare of their riches; but she, poor as she is, put in all she had—she gave all she had to live on.”
– Mark 12:38-44***
Let us look at the context of our gospel reading this Sunday to gain better understanding of the lessons it wants to convey. In the previous chapter is Mark’s narrative of Jesus’ final entry to the city of Jerusalem. He was acclaimed by the crowd as the Messiah, the anointed one. He has cleansed the temple and concluded a series of disputes with Pharisees, Herodians, and Scribes. He continues to teach. This is the last opportunity before his eventual passion, death, and resurrection. There are two parts of the gospel text as Jesus continues to teach before an enthusiastic crowd. He just smothered a lawyer in his response to the latter’s question about the greatest of commandments, our gospel last Sunday. The two parts are stories that deal with wealth issues. Jesus denounces the self-important scribes who devour the houses of widows. He then highlights the humble giving of a poor widow who puts in her whole life. The passage challenges our understanding of honor and encourages us to examine our own hearts in matters of giving and humility.
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In the first story Jesus specifically denounces the scribes. In Mark’s estimation they are self-important, arrogant, and self-aggrandizing. The scribes are those who think they are more important than everyone else. Recently in the news was a luxury vehicle which entered the bus lane in EDSA. The lane is for buses use only except for emergency vehicles. The said luxury vehicle bears a license plate number “7” which is supposed to be issued only for senators of the land. Such vehicles are not included in the list of limited vehicles allowed to use the lane. Feeling important and entitled because of the plate number, the driver illegally enters the bus lane only to be flagged down and asked to get off the lane. The driver even tries to side-swipe the traffic enforcer and even stuck a dirty finger as it back away from the lane. The passengers of the van do not even include a senator but a brother, according to the news and some of his rich investors. These people think they are more important than everyone else.
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Jesus warns about the self-serving scribes who will be condemned for their simultaneous love for “show” and cynical lack of mercy–specifically to widows. The scribes are the official teachers, but Jesus teaches people the truth about these teachers. ”Beware of the scribes” (v. 38b). Jesus points to men entrusted with religious leadership who have turned their positions of trust into selfish sinecures (jobs that require little work but pay well). They focus on what they can get rather than what they can give. Their long robes, expensive and impractical for manual labor, identify them as professionals. The scribes relish the public honors that accompany their positions. In the marketplace, people rise respectfully when they approach. In the synagogue, scribes sit in seats of honor on the dais facing the congregation — seeing, but more importantly, being seen. These are temptations for every age. Who does not like red carpet treatment? Who does not enjoy wearing finely tailored clothes? Who does not enjoy being addressed by honorific titles? All of these can be innocent or corrosive, depending on how they affect our relationships.
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We should not assume that all scribes are guilty. Jesus just had a conversation with a scribe whom he pronounced to be not far from the kingdom (12:34). People who hold honored positions often serve honorably, but dishonorable people also seek such positions. I remember the cliché we use at the YMCA every time we elect members of the board many years ago, “The position seeks the man, not vice versa.” Jesus taught the disciples, “If any man wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all”. He taught, “For the Son of Man also came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (10:45). His life contrasts dramatically with the scribes whom he is criticizing. Unlike them, Jesus dresses modestly and serves the needs of humble people along the way.
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Christians are always caught on the horns of a dilemma. When do beautiful buildings and expensive vestments stop glorifying God and start glorifying clergy and congregation? That is not a matter that can be judged by the cost of the buildings or vestments, but is a secret hidden within our hearts—but God knows our hearts! Pondering on these, we need to remember that stewardship over the lives of vulnerable people is an issue, not only for synagogues and churches, but for everyone: Business executives are tempted to treat customers and employees as cogs in the moneymaking machine; government officials are tempted to sell policy and privilege for campaign contributions or personal favors; military leaders are tempted to put personal promotions above the welfare of subordinates; teachers are tempted to put salaries and work conditions above students; mechanics are tempted to recommend unneeded repairs. “It is not necessary to be rich or powerful to victimize vulnerable people, and it is not only people at the bottom who are vulnerable. An embezzler victimizes his/her employer. A person who falsely accuses a supervisor of discrimination or sexual harassment becomes the harasser. In those situations, the employer or supervisor can be vulnerable—ruinously vulnerable—just as a widow is vulnerable.” (workingpreacher.org). And yes, the scammers! It is possible for nearly any of us to injure vulnerable people. Of those who do so, Jesus says, “These will receive greater condemnation” (v. 40).
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The second story presents an example of a widow who put in her whole life, which transforms our understanding of honor, who has it, who receives it, and what it means to communities of faith.
Here we are drawn to the manner in which Jesus weighs us up and judges us. While we are content to be guided by appearances, to judge people by what they possess and to value presents by how much they cost, Christ measures us in a totally different way. He sees us in our inner motives and the hidden intentions behind our actions. The deeper issue here is discipleship: generosity of spirit, not money, for we all have something more precious than money to offer. He looks in to our lives. He wants our hearts not our material passions. So often our giving and contributions to worthy cause are conscience solvers. They amount to fulfilling of the external without indicating any real compassionof heart. We can all use them as an excuse to avoid personal involvement and dedicated service to the marginalized of our area.
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As we ponder the lessons from our gospel reading, we are called to emulate the widow’s sacrificial spirit in our own lives. By giving with sincerity and humility, we can make a meaningful impact on those around us and honor God with our actions. Let us heed Jesus’s warning against empty displays of piety and instead strive to embody true faith through acts of love, compassion, and sacrificial giving. Learning to give generously to God is a difficult lesson to master and yet there is no true following of Christ without such self-denial. This gospel story invites us to live in a way that hurts and does not count the cost, for it is in giving that we receive. Our life story can easily be one of ignoring the needs of others, indicating how little really give ourselves to God. “There is an immense gap between what we are and what we should be. The life-giving sacrifice of Jesus, who gave up everything for us on the cross, can inspire us to bridge the gap.” (D.Knowles).
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A footnote. Jesus was assassinated because he dared to unravel the ideology that maintained the elites in power. I can’t help but wonder what the consequences for the church might be if it, like Jesus, turned the values and ideologies of oppression upside down and elevated the values of the kingdom to prominence. If instead of preaching from the perspective of the upper strata of society, it began to reflect and preach from the perspective of the widow, the orphan, the migrant and the poor. Perhaps the church would no longer be asked to do invocations for political rallies, and maybe powerful politicians will no longer attend our gatherings. I would follow Jesus in exalting the spiritual riches of the widow while letting the rich and powerful keep their scraps.This is true discipleship. This is true religion. Indeed, the things that are valued in the Kingdom of God differ from the human realm. From this vantage point, let us evaluate our values.
Let us pray.
O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 27 Collect, BCP).***
