Weekly Devotion

The Gospel for Sunday, November 8, is Mark 12:38-44.
 
Then (Jesus) 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.”  (43-44)
 
New Testament scholar Marcus Borg identifies four types of faith in the Bible.  Faith can mean believing the right things about God, as in confessing the church’s creedal formulas or keeping “the Faith.”  It also means a radical trust in God, a deep centering of oneself in God, and a vision of reality that is life-giving and grace-filled.  It is the last three meanings of faith that are the most life-producing, resulting in a “deep self-commitment to God and a willingness to spend and be spent.” 
 
One often hears the story of “the widow’s mite” in Mark 12 hauled out at stewardship time to inspire church members to dig deeper into their pockets and give more.  Look at the poor widow who gave everything she had to live on!  Surely we can do a little better in our giving to the church.  And, while that is certainly true, I think this use of the text misses the point. 
 
Jesus does not denigrate the gift of those who give out of their abundance.  Even the smallest amount given by the wealthiest person to the deserving poor is a worthy gift.  The church is at its best when using its “treasury” to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, heal the sick, and promote justice in the world.  As a member of the ELCA, I am proud of the way this church responds to the needs of others through programs like the World Hunger Appeal, Lutheran World Relief, and Lutheran Disaster Response.  Wealthy people giving out of their abundance have always been the mainstay of the church’s response to those in need.  And, the needy, for the most part, are genuinely grateful.  But, there is more to this faith thing than just generosity.  God doesn’t need our money.  God wants us heart, mind, and soul.  Jesus marvels at the widow’s faith; her radical trust in God, her deep level of self-commitment, and her willingness to spend and be spent, giving everything she had.  There is joy in that like money cannot buy. 
 
I want that.  Don’t you?
 
Pastor Rob