The Widow's Might

41 [Jesus] sat down opposite the treasury and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. 43 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. 44 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.”

As I pondered this Gospel text and the 1 Kings text, I thought of my great grandmother. She was born in 1889, so my memories of her are when she was in her 80’s and 90’s. She had five daughters and would live with each in rotation, having lost her husband well before I was born. I don’t recall her saying much, I more recall her actions. No matter where she was, she was fully committed in presence and practice though never staying in one place too long.

My great grandmother had few material possessions but a wealth of seasoning and care— both seen and unseen- that included holding us accountable even as little children with a very no nonsense manner.

She like the widows in our scripture lessons was among the powerless by social structures and status but imparted powerful lessons remembered for generations.

· How many of you have memories of lessons from older generations?

· These may be simple lessons, but they form the foundation of who we are.

Many of the saints who have gone before us were example-setters in ways they may never have known. Let’s get an understanding of this widow’s might.

Context: This account in our gospel lesson occurs after Jesus has made his entry into Jerusalem when the Jews were gathering for Passover. The prior chapter in Mark recounts his entry and his cleansing the Temple of the money changers and the dove sellers who were opportunists.

• People were gathering from near and far for Passover and needed to exchange currencies and acquire doves and other animals for their Temple offerings. The predatory purveyors were more interested in their secular profits than the sacred celebration of the Passover.

· The Greatest Prophet was messing with their profits.

· Even the chief priests and scribes were upset at Jesus’ cleaning house. He was likely messings with their money, too. Afterall, this was an enterprise right before their eyes. In Leviticus, as the Lord instructed people through Moses, there were sins offerings specifically for priests and leaders who sinned.

o They may have been set apart in their roles, but God knew they were prone to human failings, too.

So, three years into his human ministry and there was still so much work to do.

· Jesus intent was not only to radically cleanse the Jerusalem Temple; he was also intent on cleansing individual human temples by transforming minds and hearts without exception.

The chief priests and scribes did not understand or care for Christ. They were even looking for a way to kill him out of fear, because the crowds were spellbound by his teaching.

· In fact, Jesus and the disciples would leave Jerusalem each night, no doubt for their safety.

· Yet Jesus persisted in returning, persisted in his commitment to the One who sent him. Jesus’ teaching was radical, heart-changing, and thought-provoking…and

obviously, anger-provoking, too. That’s what prophets do – they both challenge and comfort.

o Doing God’s will is not about popularity but purpose.

o It is about seeing and acting with God’s clarity in God’s purpose.

In these final days, Jesus has his authority questioned by the priests and scribes. Unsuccessful in their efforts, they recruit others to try an entrapped Jesus and have him arrested by the local authorities over the question of paying taxes. The Sadducees who do not believe in resurrection argue with him and he tells them flat out, they are quite wrong. Still others test him on the commandments while others listen to him with delight. Jesus was being confronted everywhere by those who were feeling discomfort as their comfortable way of thinking and being was challenged. Cleaning house can be very messy. It takes commitment.

One day, after teaching in the temple, Jesus sat down across from the treasury to people-watch.

· There was no passing the plate in the temple. So, the Passover crowd put money in these receptacles of the temple treasury.

· Jesus watched wealthy people deposit many coins of all kinds- gold, silver, bronze, copper. Then he witnessed this poor widow give two copper coins – mites (KJV).

o I imagine Jesus’ heart being moved at the sight of her offering all she had.

o With all that had come before with the powers that be, this presented a teaching moment for his disciples. He called them over.

43…and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. 44 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.”

· The NRSV translation says she put in “all she had to live on”; the Greek literally means, she put in all of her “life”.

o One of the least in the eyes of human society offers the most by faith.

o Many gave out of the convenience of their wealth; the widow gave out of her commitment to and trust in God. This is the widow’s might-- motive.

So what?

This story is not about money.It is about motive.

• While many are metering out time, talent or treasure; God is measuring our motives.

• Are we motivated by self-centered convenience or God-centered commitment?

This story is a lesson in our human capacity for commitment.

· If a poor widow can commit wholeheartedly to God, so can we.

This widow’s might is the treasure of her trust in and commitment to God.

o Despite her social position, she lived a life that matters (present tense).

§ We are still learning from her actions.

§ This widow gave her life (living) trusting God.

§ This teaching moment foreshadowed Jesus’ totally giving his human life for our sake trusting God.

o The widow poured her life out into God’s treasury.

§ Jesus poured his life out so we might have the treasure of eternal life.

Now what?

All of this happened while the people were gathered for Passover. In this particular year, Jesus would be crucified. As he prepared his disciples for his suffering and death, he was challenging religious leaders and others to rethink their roles, rules, and responsibilities; he was exposing misplaced motives among the people and pointing folks back to God.

§ Jesus uses the widow to demonstrate the value God places on wholehearted commitment.

o The disciples would soon have their commitment to Jesus radically tested when he is unjustly arrested, tried, and crucified.

§ Circumstances will arise that will test our commitment to and trust in God.

o These are opportunities to exercise our faith and meet the challenge of taking action beyond our comfort zones.

o God knows are all in different places of comfort and discomfort

§ Just as Jesus watched to Passover crowd, God is witness to our true circumstances and our capacities

o We must ask: What is God witnessing in our actions?

o In all that we do, God measures our motives.

o Actions out of convenience are appreciated; but actions out of wholehearted commitment reflect the heart of Christ and are highly prized. Motive matters.

God's commitment to us is not one of convenience. As Ps 121 tells us:

§ The One who keeps us will neither slumber nor sleep.

§ Our’s is the God from everlasting to everlasting; who determines the number of the stars and calls them by name (Ps 147) and yet is mindful of us mortals!

God is mindful of our motives.

§ Just as Jesus watched to Passover crowd, God is witness to our true circumstances and our capacities

o We must ask: What is God witnessing in our actions?

o In all that we do, God measures our motives.

The widow’s might is in her motive. It is in her commitment to God.

§ As we remember the saints who have gone before us, let us live out the lessons they taught. This widow is among the saints.

§ In her, Jesus witnessed a pure commitment to God.

§ As Christ is our witness, may there be God-centered might in our motives. May the Lord’s heart be warmed as we fully commit, withholding nothing from the One who gave and who gives us all. Amen