Loading...Ah money!
We like it, we are frustrated by it.
We want more of it, but feel (a little?) guilty about that.
We are fascinated with money and dream about what it can do.
We think all our troubles would be solved if only we had more!
And that’s just the church!
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Jesus talked about two things often: fear and money.
No surprise, as those two things go hand in hand much of the time.
In today’s story, Jesus and his disciples are sitting in the courtyard of the Temple – a semi-public place. Jews, both male and female, and Gentiles are allowed in the courtyard. They are “people watching”, with commentary:
“Watch out for the folks dressed to the nines, and who used slick words and obfuscating language to trick vulnerable people out of their homes and rights.”
“And those fancy-pants rich people who make a big show of giving lots of ‘noisy’ money – they just want to make sure that you notice them.”
But, Jesus says, I want you to notice, to really notice, this woman instead:
she can’t give much money, but she lives in full trust and faith in God.
See her and notice her. She is one of God’s beloved people.
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You see, I think the most powerful bit of this story is what – no, WHO – Jesus sees and notices: this woman whom everyone else overlooks.
Jesus notices the vulnerable and loves them.
Jesus notices those who feel lost, forgotten, or worthless.
Jesus sees with love those whom the world ignores, or shames, or shuns.
Jesus notices and sees,
and then says: “look at the faith and the trust of that person. This is where you see the kingdom of God in action in the world.”
But the Divine One noticing and seeing those whom the world would ignore began years before this incident in the Temple courtyard.
Elijah, a man of God (aka a prophet), met a widow in the town of Zarepheth.
He was in this town, not part of Israel, because of the famine and drought (which he’d told the people would happen).
As he approached the town, he asked a woman who was out collecting sticks, for a drink of water and, as she was going to get the water, a little bit of bread to eat. At this point, she told Elijah that she was collecting sticks to make a fire in order to bake the cake (read: bread) with the small amount of flour she had left for her and her son to eat and then lay down to die. She was planning to give up; the weight of her poverty and loss combined with the famine was just too much.
But Elijah told her to not worry, there would be enough. And there was for him, for her, and for her son. For days and weeks, until the drought and famine ended.
This widow was a most unlikely person,
but God sent Elijah to her to find shelter and to find food.
The kingdom of God is found in unexpected places.
The realm of God shows up in unlikely people.
The love of God manifests itself in counter-cultural ways.
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God loves, care about, and saves all people
even those in their long, fancy gowns or dapper suits,
even those in simple clothes, hipster plaid shirts, jeans, or clothes which have not seen a washer for awhile,
even those who scorn or shame others.
But God ESPECIALLY loves and care about those
who are shamed or made to feel worthless,
who are cast aside or disenfranchised,
who are looking for a home and for refuge,
who are deemed unimportant by The Powers The Be.
People seeking to be refugees – seeking asylum
People who want to vote, but whose registration was “lost”
People who feel caught up in circumstances beyond their control and feel that all that is happening is destructive.
People who are living with chronic disease which saps strength, energy, and hope.
People like you –
God sees you and notices you.
God sees you and loves you.
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Are you one of those folks in the long robes who can put lots of money in the treasury? Bless your heart; we will use your offering together as God’s people in mission and ministry!
Are you one of the “widows” who put a few coins into the treasury? Bless your heart! We see you, God sees you. We will use your offering together as God’s people in mission and ministry.
Come with joy,
Come with gratitude and thanksgiving,
Come in faith
to give of yourself to God
to be nourished at this Table by Christ’s body and blood
to be washed in the waters of the Spirit
to be seen by God, your creator who loves you
to be sent into the world to notice, see, and love the others beloved by God.
Come, you beloved of God
be seen, be noticed, be faithful, be filled with the joy of Christ.
Amen
