Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost
Midweek Musings
Reflection by Patrick McGrath
INTRODUCTION
Widows are visible everywhere in today's readings. Jesus denounces those scribes who pray impressive prayers but devour widows' houses. He commends the poor widow who in his view gave far more than the major donors. Jesus doesn't see her simply as an object of compassion or charity. She, like the widow of Zarephath who shares her last bit of food with Elijah, does something of great importance.
Prayer of the Day (ELW)
O God, you show forth your almighty power chiefly by reaching out to us in mercy. Grant us the fullness of your grace, strengthen our trust in your promises, and bring all the world to share in the treasures that come through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen
First Reading 1 Kings 17:8–16
This chapter begins the story of Elijah. God sends a drought on Israel because of the sins of King Ahab. This passage depicts God’s saving acts not only on behalf of Elijah, but also on behalf of those who are associated with the prophet, even a foreigner, the widow of Zarephath.
8Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 9Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there; for I have commanded a widow there to feed you. 10So he set out and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called to her and said, "Bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink." 11As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, "Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand." 12But she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die." 13Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son. 14For thus says the LORD the God of Israel: The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the LORD sends rain on the earth." 15She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days. 16The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elijah.
Psalm 146
The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down. (Ps. 146:8)
1Hal- lelujah!
Praise the LORD, O my soul!
2I will praise the LORD as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
3Put not your trust in rulers,
in mortals in whom there is no help.
4When they breathe their last, they re- turn to earth,
and in that day their thoughts perish.
5Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help,
whose hope is in the LORD their God;
6who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that is in them;
who keeps promis- es forever;
7who gives justice to those who are oppressed,
and food to those who hunger.
The LORD sets the captive free.
8The LORD opens the eyes of the blind;
the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
the LORD loves the righteous.
9The LORD cares for the stranger;
the LORD sustains the orphan and widow,
but frustrates the way of the wicked.
10The LORD shall reign forever,
your God, O Zion, throughout all generations. Hallelujah!
Second Reading Hebrews 9:24–28
The letter to the Hebrews describes Christ as a high priest who offers himself as a sacrifice for our sin. Christ does not die again and again each year. He died once, is alive with God, and will reveal himself on the last day.
24For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but he entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 25Nor was it to offer himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Holy Place year after year with blood that is not his own; 26for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgment, 28so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
Gospel Mark 12:38–44
After engaging in a series of public arguments with religious leaders in the temple, Jesus contrasts the proud and oppressive ways of those leaders with the sacrificial humility and poverty of the widow.
38As 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."41He 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."
Reflection:
This was an interesting reflection for me, as I have been preparing the 2010 budget for Atonement. I believe, to a degree, each family that belongs to our church is feeling the pinch of the recession, and our giving reflects the perspective of the widow much more than those with abundance.
As I did not know much about tithing, and it was a topic in one of Pastor’s sermons, I decided to do a small bit of research. I found this site: http://www.minxcenter.org/minxcenter/blog/tithingEastman.htm.
Here is a passage from the article:
“For some, the matter of tithing as an ideal basis for giving to a church is controversial. They make a very persuasive argument as noted by church historian and futurist Leonard Sweet in an excellent online monograph, "Freely You Have Received, Freely Give." He begins with the observation that what is popularly known today as tithing has little resemblance to the biblical tithing of the Hebrew people. Here are some of his arguments against tithing as a system of giving for churches today:
. Tithing was a complex system of three tithes (which amounted to 23 1/3 percent, not 10 percent) in an ancient culture as a part of religious ceremonial laws not observed by Christians today.
. Tithing tends to foster a spirit of legalism rather than generosity and compassion.
. The tithe sets too low a standard for the rich and too high a standard for the poor.
. Tithing has not worked; look at how few Christians actually tithe.
. Tithing is so tied to money that God's claim on the rest of one's life can be diminished. Giving is divorced from the more comprehensive call to stewardship.
On the other hand, Sweet makes some equally persuasive arguments in favor of tithing in churches today:
. Tithing is a simple, neat formula that gives priority to the church and its ministry, which gives some helpful baselines and starting points for Christian giving.
. Tithing is a spiritual discipline that can actually move people to deeper levels of faith and awareness of God's presence.
. All tithers recommend tithing. 100 percent. Tithers dare non-tithers to find one person who tithes and regrets it.
. More tithing would have tremendous benefits for churches.”
Wow, could you imagine 23 ½ percent being your tithe? That would require quite a change of lifestyle for my family.
Anyway, as my family and Atonement face another year that is going to be fiscally challenging, I am trying to balance our ability to give in relation to an unsure future. It is my hope that we can increase our giving to offset the anticipated loss in the 2010 budget.
Let us Pray
For those enduring difficult fiscal times
For those attempting to stimulate the economy and create jobs
For those who give, no matter the method
Quotes:
No one has ever become poor by giving. ~ Anne Frank
We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. ~ Winston Churchill
My Ken Klassen moment:
A pig and a chicken were walking by a church where a charity event was taking place. Getting caught up in the atmosphere, the pig suggested to the chicken that they each make an offering.
"Great idea!" the chicken replied. "Let's offer them ham and eggs!"
"Not so fast," said the pig. "For you, that's an offering. For me, it's a sacrifice."
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