Gracious God,
We come to church on this Sunday in November, in the aftermath of a consequential Election and with deep division among us: we ask you to grant us time and opportunity to be your people in the world and not two opposing parties. We pray for healing and unity in our nation. We pray against the spirit of offense, bitterness, and fear and pray that the church would be a beacon of love, justice, and peace.
Gospel Mark 12.38-44 -34
Jesus Denounces the Scribes
38 As he taught, he said, ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! 40 They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.’
The Widow’s Offering
41 He 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 were 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.’
Sermon ” To Give Your Everything.”
The window put in everything she had; all she had to live on.
I was preparing this sermon as the church was busy on Tuesday's Election Day.
People of all ages, genders, and ethnicities came in and out to vote.
People of different political opinions are divided by political observations but united by the democratic privilege to vote.
Old people who had been voting for years, first-time voters who were excited and took pictures of the rune stone with their stickers.
Married, single, divorced, dating, single parents, expecting young mothers, young men in their big trucks, old men with walkers, and widows.
They all came and cast their vote, their right and privilege to make their voices heard in the democratic decision on who would be the new leadership in the white house, congress, and the cities. A vote was cast as they thought would be best for their livelihood and their country.
I could not help but listen to the gospel about the poor widow giving out of her poverty while the rich contributed out of their abundance, - in the light of the election and our political choices. How we choose to give, and why we give.
Consider how often the Bible talks about widows, who were among the most vulnerable members of society. We heard the story of the Widow in Zarephath from the OT, and we know the phrase often repeated in the Bible: “When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it. It shall be for the stranger, the orphan, and the widow, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.”
The stranger, the orphans, and the widows. Do not forget the most vulnerable – treat them with kindness, generosity, and respect.
The days of the widows in the Bible are the days logged before State Farm, Blue Cross, or Medicare before there would be anything like insurance payouts to cover the bills in the event of your spouse’s death. Back then the inheritance would normally go to the sons and not to the surviving spouse, and the widow would then be expected to live with her oldest son and his family…. On the mercy of their goodwill. However, if she had no sons, then she would be at the mercy of society. This is why the Bible talks so much about widows… strangers and orphans. The most vulnerable and weak of any society. Back then and still is now.
The story about the widow who puts her last two coins in the temple offerings comes right after a consequential US election. The contrast between this widow and the other giver in the gospel seems resonant at this time when so much money has been poured into the democratic enterprise by big corporations, billionaires, celebrities, and grassroots donors who gave what little they could. The competition for our generosity has been fierce these past months of election campaigning.
Just imagine what those 1 billion dollars spent on TV ads alone, could have done to the heartbreaking problem of homelessness and poverty –……..
In all this commotion, political divide, senseless spending of billions of dollars on the campaign trail, and the constant bickering instead of possible bipartisan commitment, - I had to turn to dear old Grundtvig again. He was indeed a wise man. Deeply rooted in the call to protect strangers, orphans, and widows in our society.
“In wealth, we have come far when few have too much and fewer too little.”
This is indeed a good compass for our society and our aspirations for a more just, equal, and kind society.
By lifting the widow’s actions, Jesus is not simply heaping praise on her for her generosity and goodness: he is indicting the system that keeps her poor. He is asking us to face our greed and our love of procession, privilege, and power.
Listening to the Gospel today in the aftermath of an exhausting election and deep division among us, we all must ask ourselves some tough questions: “Is this right? Is this fair? Why is she down to her last two coins of the lowest possible dominion? How did she get there, and did we let it happen?
The American lawyer and social justice activist Bryan Stevenson famously said: “The opposite of poverty is not wealth. The opposite of poverty is justice.”
Or like the iconic wise civil rights fighter Martin Luther King said: “We need leaders not in love with money, but in love with justice. Not in love with publicity, but in love with humanity.”
As people of all generations, ages, orientations, ethnicities, and affiliations were streaming in and out the church doors to cast their votes last Tuesday, I hope they all came humility and humanity to the poles.
Our actions matter, our voices matter and our votes matter.
Because we are the ones who are called to protect the stranger, the orphans, and the widows of our times.
When you give today to the church, you give to this place of faith, hope, and love based on a deep humanity and compassion. Making sure that we can be a church of hope for the homeless hungry, lonely widows, depressed teenagers, struggling single moms, immigrants and strangers, families, the young ones, and the old ones.
A place where we give what we can.
A place where we receive as we give.
A place that gives us hope and encouragement to believe in a better world, a more compassionate society, and just equal opportunity for all to live a decent life.
To give is to live.
Give with love and consideration.
Give with hope and compassion.
Give and you will receive.
Like the wise Maya Angelou says: “When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.”
So, as we gather as a church community today, some celebrating, others mourning the election, some coming in joy others in fear – we make room for all this here.
We make room for each other – and we give room for differences and diversity but always with respect, compassion, and a deep faith.
And then we give everything we can to each other, to the community, to our country – to be peacemakers as Christ called us to be.
And we pray the prayer of Frans Assisi, believing that we are all embraced by the Grace of God:
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.