The Widow's Example

Sermon preached on November 11, 2012 at St. David’s Episcopal Church, Washington, DC - Family Service

Proper 27: 1 Kings 17:8-16, Hebrews 9:24-28, and Mark 12:38-44

May these spoken words be faithful to the written word and lead us to the living word, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

On the surface this week’s reading from the Gospel according to Mark looks like a super text for a sermon on stewardship, which is what of course what NN (Rector) has been preaching about over the last weeks. Perhaps that should have been today instead? Not that I’m saying that his sermons were not good. 

Except on a second look … Jesus is praising the one who gives very little, just “two small copper coins, which are worth a penny” and not those who give much, those who are able to contribute out of abundance. And then we heard a warning about religious leaders in long robes, who have the best seats in church – right up front close to the altar and are greeted with respect in public, perhaps with a title like Rev.? That sounds like a warning not to give to the church, especially if all the leaders do is to “devour widow’s houses!” That does not sound like the basis for a good stewardship sermon, does it!

So what is going on here? Well, since Jesus arrived in Jerusalem (in chapter 11) he has had many difficult encounters with the religious establishment. First he upset them by driving the money changers and traders out of the temple, then they tried, unsuccessfully, to expose him as a heretic by asking a number of trick questions: where did his authority come from, should we pay taxes (sorry, yes), is there a resurrection, and which is the greatest commandment?

Having embarrassed and annoyed the Jewish leaders with his answers, Jesus now turns to their behavior, to the way they live out their faith. He is not impressed. Their aims are to be prominent, to be admired and respected, and to gain personal advantage. That’s certainly not what Jesus had been teaching. As we heard read a few weeks ago, his ideals were servanthood and humility, “whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all” (Mark 9:35), and self-denial, “if any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves.” (Mark 8:34) Nor was it just Jesus’ teaching they were ignoring, but their own. According to Jewish law and tradition, orphans, strangers, and widows were to be protected and provided for, not exploited (Deuteronomy 10). Conspicuous piety: saying long and loud prayers and giving generously in public were not enough. You might remember the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:10-14), one boasting of his piety and generosity, the other humble and contrite. For Jesus it was the tax collector who went home justified.  

And in our story, if the widow is the positive example, what qualities does she exhibit that make her so?

-   Her humility: She didn’t make a big show of her giving. In fact she might even have been a bit embarrassed because it was so small. Her act of giving is so unobtrusive that only Jesus notices and calls to the disciples’ and our attention.

-   Her total trust: She gave all she had, just like the widow of Zarephath in the story from Kings. That widow had used her last handful of meal and her last drop of oil to make a cake for Elijah, her son, and herself. She trusted, as Elijah had promised, that God would provide, and God did: “the jar was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail.” In Mark’s gospel we don’t hear what happened to the widow after she had put her money in. But she certainly trusted that God would provide.

-   Her consistency: In her case there is no contradiction between her outward piety, her actions, and her inward surrender to God. Nothing is just for the sake of appearance.  

-   Her sacrificial attitude: She has given all she had to live on. I don’t think that it is a coincidence that this the last story before the Passion narrative starts. In Mark’s gospel this ends Jesus’ public ministry, after this he only speaks to the disciples until his arrest. So in some way the widow’s sacrifice is a prelude to Jesus’ sacrifice.

What does it mean for us today, is as always the key question?

-   Is St. David’s going to turn down “large sums that you want to put into our treasury” in future? Well no, as our treasurer Bruce will no doubt be glad to hear.

-   Do we expect you to give everything you have? No, we don’t want you to give all you have to live on.

But actually that last phrase, “she has put in … all she had to live on” would be better translated as “she has put in her whole life.” That may not be what St. David’s expects of you, but it is what God expects. We are not supposed to hold back part of ourselves because becoming and being a Christian is supposed to transform all of what we are.

Imitating Christ often seems a very tall order. But surely we are able to imitate the poor widow he holds up as an example in this passage? Her example calls us to humility in our dealings with others, to trust in God, to consistency in our behavior, and to a sacrificial giving of our time, talents, and treasure.

Amen