February 16, 2025 – Seeds of Faith-Week 3 - Pastor Kate Murphy

Scripture: Mark 12:41-44

Dear Church,

There is a lot of controversy about the Bible story we're going to hear today.

A widow goes to the temple and throws two small coins into the treasury. Jesus is watching and commends her. He explains that while other gifts seem larger, she has given all she possesses.

For generations, preachers have told the story of the widow, celebrating her piety and encouraging believers to 'go and do likewise.' Give all you have to the church...err--God.

But in recent years, scholars have begun pushing back. They point out that immediately before Jesus talks about the widow, he excoriates scribes and priests, for hypocrisy in general and specifically for 'devouring widow's houses.' Turns out, temple officials were entrusted with overseeing the assets of widows (because #patriarchy) and were entitled to compensation for their labors. The overseers did their job so well that many widows ended up penniless and homeless.

Kind of casts a different light on the scene doesn't it? Perhaps her gift was less piety and more prophecy. Maybe she was throwing in all they'd left her as if to say, 'you might as well have this too!'

However you read it, this is the story about a powerless woman who had very little to give. And she gave it all to a temple that had betrayed and exploited her. And Jesus saw. And because he told the story, generations later, we still have the opportunity to watch and wonder--what does this mean? How shall we live?

What does it mean to give all you have to a wounded world as it wounds you? Is it better to withhold gifts from the unworthy? If the widow is a window... what is she showing us?

What I know for sure is that in these days, we must let Jesus and the widow teach us why we give.

Peace,
Pastor Kate

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