Reflection -- Finding What’s Real

Mark recounts several events that occurred at Jerusalem during what we now call Holy Week in the final days of Jesus’ public ministry.  He tells us how Jesus observed and engaged the busy life of the city during this interlude.  Jesus meets, challenges, and bests the religious and secular authorities of that day; the Herodians, the chief priests, the elders, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the scribes.  In this story, Jesus contrasts the behavior of one of these groups, the scribes, with someone far below their social position and standing, a poor widow.

Jesus' vision is true and sharp.  He is not impressed with outward appearances, but with inner reality.  Following Jesus and building the reign of God is not a game of charades.  No amount of social standing and outward piety could conceal from Jesus the self-serving greed of those “who devour widows’ houses.”  The scribes were not using their knowledge and social privilege for service to God and others, as they pretended, but to manipulate others for their own gain.

The contrast is with a poor widow, a person who went quietly about the business of a real and vital faith.  Her service to God was not easily achieved, something she did at little real cost because it came out of a place of plenty.  Rather, she gave in a way that demonstrated genuine sacrifice.

The journey of faith is often very difficult.  There are major “potholes” along the way.  Insidious temptations can come at the mid-point as others begin to recognize that we have made some progress and acknowledge it.  There is a temptation to begin to believe our own “press,” as the scribes may have done.  This leads to inflated egos and being more concerned about our public image and how to preserve it than the path that God would have us follow. 

Granted that we are to love God, others, AND ourselves, but there is a fine line between gaining the self esteem God would have us enjoy to empower us and the deadly poison of the voice that whispers “oh! what a good person am I.”  Becoming too comfortable with who, or where, we are is a sign of impending spiritual death. 

The widow had not fallen into the kind of snare that captured the scribes.  Her service to God was right on track.  She gave all that she had humbly and freely without though of reward or who was watching. 

We follow one who gave all that he had and who calls us, now and then, to an honest, searching examination of our motives.

revclay

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Mark 12:38-44

As [Jesus] taught, he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets!  They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers.  They will receive the greater condemnation." 

He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury.  Many rich people put in large sums.  A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny.  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.  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."

 [NRSV]