The Reading
The Gospel
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.”
The Sermon
Are you all in...
Sometimes when I read the
gospel I tend to cringe. I see examples of people who are more
dedicated to God than me. Jesus repeatedly tells us that we should
be 'all in' when it comes to our love and sacrifice to God. This
example of the poor widow who gave her last two coins to the temple
coffers is an example of how dedicated we should be.
Part of me wants to fight
back against this example. I have bills to pay! I have to have gas
for my truck so that I can go to important meetings. I have a heating
bill and a light bill. Not to mention my satellite TV bill. I bet
Jesus didn't have on of those. I have to act responsibly in how I do
things in the culture in which I live. You need money do do that.
Upon looking at the
previous very short paragraph I noticed I used the pronoun “I”
eight times. Many of us are very attached to what we have and we do
not want to risk losing any of it. I believe at least part of Jesus
message is that we should not only show our love of God but that we
should trust in God as well. The woman at the temple was all in.
Those were her last two coins and she willingly gave them.
I work as a counselor on
Friday's at the local food pantry. I hear a lot of stories. I
sometimes have homeless people who come to us for food. I always ask
them where they rest their heads at night and the stories vary.
Frequently, they know someone who is letting them sleep on a couch or
allowing them to park a van in their driveway. During really cold
weather families often move in with each other because there is not
enough money to heat two households.
The stories of poverty can
at times be depressing. However there is an underlying spirit. I
remember talking to one lady a while ago and in our conversation she
said, “I may not have any money but I am rich in other ways. I
have my faith in God and I have people who love me.” She trusted
that God was on her journey with her.
I think sometimes we
forget that we are not alone on this journey in life. The woman who
gave everything she had was all in. We need to have that kind of
faith as well. Sure, we all have been given gifts from God to help
us on our spiritual journey and God expects us to use those gifts.
I have a feeling that the
widow woman at the temple may have been more at peace than many of
us. I have a feeling that she not only gave all her worldly
possessions to God but she also gave all of her worries to him as
well.
Let me make a
recommendation to you. Tonight, as you lay down for a night's sleep,
offer up to God all of those worries that are troubling you in your
life. God loves you and He will give you peace.
Blessings,
Fr. Fred
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