When Giving Really Is Giving

Devotional Reflection, Friday, August 25, 2023

Proper 15, the week of the twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.

Key phrase for reflection from today’s Gospel reading:

41 He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. 43Then 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. 44For 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.’

You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 980)

AM Psalm 140, 142; PM Psalm 141, 143:1-11(12)

2 Samuel 19:24-43; Acts 24:24-25:12; Mark 12:35-44

Today we celebrate the Feast of Louis IX of France. (See below.)

David's Reflections

Today's Gospel relates events in Jesus' last week in Jerusalem. The last two paragraphs employ the literary device of contrast. Jesus first referred to the religious leaders, who were guilty of social injustice. Widows in Palestinian culture were especially vulnerable. They had few options for generating income, had little recourse in the courts (See Luke 18), and could easily lose their property. Jesus accused the scribes of "devouring widow's houses," possibly a reference to their acquiring these properties through foreclosure.

The contrast scene places Jesus in the Temple, near the treasury boxes. The wealthy were making large offerings. Jesus observed a widow putting in two lepta, small copper coins. He called her to the attention of his followers as someone who had given more than all the others because she had put in all the money she had.

This particular widow, though vulnerable to exploitation, obviously did not feel like a helpless victim. She may already have lost her home; she certainly was in desperate straights. Yet, her heart remained open to God and she practiced a radical generosity by giving all the money she had to the Temple treasury.

When we suffer reverses or crises--a mugging, a financial downturn, the death of a spouse or parent or child, or sibling, the unwanted ending of a relationship, or a serious illness--the temptation can be quite strong to feel powerless and victimized, to believe that life has turned on us and is dealing with us unfairly. This widow, had she ever felt that way, had moved beyond that to a radical faith in God, faith that God would provide.

It is one thing to be powerless to alter a situation and quite another to feel powerless in a situation. We do have the power to control our response to what is happening to us. We can persist in faith; we can share our plight with those who love us; we can seek creative solutions. We can learn, by monitoring our reactions, where darkness and fear lurk within us. Most importantly, we can refuse to be reduced to powerless blamers who rage against the unalterable and (at least indirectly) against the God who seems to ignore the unalterable.

Leslie Weatherhead, a Methodist minister, served as an air raid warden in London during World War II and saw incomparable suffering. He once observed:

"I can only write down this simple testimony. Like all (people) men, I prefer the sunny uplands of experience when health, happiness and success abound; but I have learned more about God, life and myself in the darkness of fear and failure than I have ever learned in sunshine. There are such things as the treasures of darkness. The darkness, thank God, passes, but what one learns in the darkness he possesses forever.”+

+Leslie Weatherhead, cited by Bruce Van Blair, A Year to Remember (Seattle: Glen Abbey Books, 1988), p. 213.

©David W. Perkins, 2023.

Collect of the Day, Proper 15, the twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us grace to receive thankfully the fruits of this redeeming work, and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 232)

Today we celebrate the Feast of Louis IX, King of France (died 25 Aug 1270 CE).

http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Louis.htm

Collect of the Feast of Louis IX, King of France

O God, you called your servant Louis of France to an earthly throne that he might advance your heavenly kingdom, and gave him zeal for your church and love for your people: Mercifully grant that we who commemorate him this day may be fruitful in good works, and attain to the glorious crown of your saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Of the Holy Cross

Especially suitable for Fridays

Almighty God, whose beloved Son willingly endured the agony and shame of the cross for our redemption: Give us courage to take up our cross and follow him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 253)

In the Order of Worship for Evening

Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, creator of the changes of day and night, giving rest to the weary, renewing the strength of those who are spent, bestowing upon us occasions of song in the evening. As you have protected us in the day that is past, so be with us in the coming night; keep us from every sin, every evil, and every fear; for you are our light and salvation, and the strength of our life. To you be glory for endless ages. Amen. (BCP, 113)

A Collect for Mission

O God of all the nations of the earth: Remember the multitudes who have been created in your image but have not known the redeeming work of our Savior Jesus Christ; and grant that, by the prayers and labors of your holy Church, they may be brought to know and worship you as you have been revealed in your Son; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 257)

Daily Office Gospel, Mark 12:35-44

35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he said, ‘How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the son of David? 36David himself, by the Holy Spirit, declared,

“The Lord said to my Lord,

‘Sit at my right hand,

until I put your enemies under your feet.’”

37David himself calls him Lord; so how can he be his son?’ And the large crowd was listening to him with delight.

38 As he taught, he said, ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! 40They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.’

41 He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. 43Then 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. 44For 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.’

Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer