SERMON - PROPER 27

Mark 12:38-44

As he taught, Jesus said, "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at banquets. They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely."

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on."

I usually attend a monthly Christian Social Justice meeting. A number of the people there come from a another local Church. It seems that recently they held a special service to speak about issues of social justice but only a handful of people turned up. So these people were asking why Christians who've heard the Gospel, aren't burning with a desire that our society, our world, becomes more just than it is. Why aren't we more concerned about the needs of the unemployed in this country? Having society tell you that you're not needed can't be easy to live with no matter how much money the government gives. Why aren't we concerned about the ever increasing gap between the haves and the have nots? It's the way our society continues to be structured! How come it doesn't seem to bother Christians that the rich are getting richer and the poor poorer? Does it simply mean we hope to be on the rich end of the scale? How come we aren't fighting harder for justice in our society for Aboriginal people? Why can't some even see the injustice that is part of our Australian way of life? What about our prisons? Surely as Christian we can't be content about how they are being run? Surely we aren't interested in simply punishing people. So shouldn't we at least be interested in stopping the terrible things that happen in prisons? Domestic violence is still happening. How come we say nothing against a Government spending billions on equipment for war, but churches (like ours) are forced to hold car boot sales to raise a little money so that there can be a place dedicated to allowing people to die in dignity, surrounded by care and love? How come there aren't hundreds of Christian groups fighting all sorts of injustice in our society?

These were the questions on my mind as I began preparing for the sermon for today. This wonderful little story about a widow putting a few cents in the temple offering box. Not most of you have probably heard more than one sermon on this text. You know what it means! Let me summarise the usual emphasis with a quote from a sermon I found - "The meaning of this story is very clear. Jesus is pointing up the true emphasis on giving, giving not the leftovers , or a little, but so that a person won't notice it, but giving from the point of sacrifice. In other words, this woman is giving how all Christians should give. I'm sure you've heard sermons like this before. I've preached 'em.

But maybe, just maybe this explanation is simply not being true to the text or true to the poor people of our country or our congregations. Let me remind you of the context in which mark sets this story. As he taught, Jesus said, "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at banquets. They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely."

The religious people of that day have been ripping off the poor and Jesus is not impressed. He sits down and watches people putting in the offerings that were expected of them. A poor widow puts in her last two copper coins into the temple coffers. Surely here in this act Jesus sees another example of more injustice from institutional religion. Surely Jesus is upset that a poor woman is not only allowed, but expected to contribute this money, all her money, he last two cents. The rich are putting in much bigger amounts but they represent only a small percentage of their wealth. Can you see Jesus becoming even angrier than he was before. Can you see him storming out of the temple announcing that this place of injustice will be completely destroyed. Well that's exactly what he does. After our text we read: As he was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!" "Do you see all these great buildings?" replied Jesus. "Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down."

I wonder why I've never been able to see these things in this text before? Maybe I've been happy to see Jesus concerned for the poor, but not really expected to see him get angry with the injustice of the situation. Maybe it's nice to use a story about the poor to teach us a lesson, but too disturbing to allow it to stirs us into becoming concerned about the plight of the poor.

And yet there is more to be extracted from this story. While the religious, respectable men seek wealth and power over others, this poor widow points to he real work of Christ. With her offering she is the forerunner of the serving, self-giving Messiah of God. She puts in everything - all she had to live on. She puts in her life, just as very soon Jesus will invest his whole life to save the world. This unnamed woman, this nobody is preaching a much better sermon that all the religious people, then and maybe now.

When Jesus addresses the comfortable, the secure, the wealthy, the acceptable, he challenges, he disturbs, upsets and he even seem to enjoy rubbing them up the wrong way on purpose. But when he speaks to the crushed, the disturbed, the rejected, the outcasts he brings comfort, love and peace. Which message does your life need today? If you are like me you need both!

There's a story about a very wealthy man targeted by the church finance committee. Even though he'd never been known to give very much to the church, they decided not to leave him out.

When the committee met with the man one afternoon, they said that in view of his considerable resources they were sure that he would like to make a substantial contribution to this program.

"I see," he said, "so you have it all figured out have you? In the course of your investigation did you discover that I have a widowed mother who has no other means of support but me?" No, they responded, they did not know that. "Did you know that I have a sister who was left by a drunken husband with five children and no means to provide for them?" No, they said, we did not know that either. "Well, sir, did you know also that I have a brother who is cripple due to an automobile accident and can never work another day to support his wife and family?"

Embarrassingly, they responded, no sir, we did not know that either. "Well," he thundered triumphantly, "I've never given any of them a cent so why should I give anything to you?"

Does that describe us? Does that indicate why so often we Christian can't even see the injustice in society let alone be concerned about it? Is this why we so often join in with everyone else blaming the victim. Is that why we pretend to ourselves that being convicted and placed in jail today is like going to a holiday camp? Does the care and love we show really cost us, or does it simply represent a small proportion of our vast wealth of time, energy, and wealth? Do we take the time to become informed, do we spend the energy putting ourselves into other people's shoes, do we get in and try to make a difference or leave it to someone else, maybe with less ability. It's disturbing isn't it to see ourselves as the stingy wealthy people.

I'm sure if Jesus were to have spoken to the woman, he would have spoken gently and lovingly. But unfortunately, of course, Luke didn't record this conversation. I'm sure it would have brought us comfort and hope as well. Surely this woman would have known how insignificant her two cents were. She would have felt her action to be totally inadequate. Probably as inadequate as we feel our two cents worth might be if we were to get upset at injustice. Perhaps Jesus would have said to her, as he would still say to us who feel completely inadequate and swamped by the need in our society, "Remember God is watching and ready to fill even your two cents with his wealth and strength." I wonder if I can leave you to think about what Jesus words might be as he observes our small effort Maybe I can even challenge you to share your answer with me. I look forward to your response.

© Keith Stiller