Thirty-Second Sunday of the Year November 12, 2006

1 Kings 17: 10-16 Hebrews 9:24-28 Mark 12: 41-44

As often as I have heard or read the Gospel story about the so-called, “widow’s mite,” about the woman Jesus commends for offering what little she had, I really never gave much thought to the idea that what she did would be able to be seen by those standing by. Apparently, as I recently learned, there were different offering boxes available to visitors to the Temple in Jerusalem. Offerings of different value could be dropped in and seen by others. The different offering boxes depended on what type of coin was dropped in, its value, or the purpose of the offering. Donations could be made for things used at the Temple like incense, wood, gold, an animal or simply as a free-will offering.

All of this reminded me of something I observed many years ago. At a parish where I was assigned a neighboring Baptist church was invited to use the church building after their church was totally destroyed by fire. The administrator of the parish and I were invited to participate in the first service that the Baptist church held in our church. When it came time for the offering, the members of the Baptist church came up individually to the front of the church to drop their offering in front of the pastor and the whole assembly.

Jesus commends the widow whom he observed for the total sacrifice she made of the very little she had as an act of praise and honor of God. More importantly, as I reflected on the story, I realized that she was giving evidence of totality of her trust in God. After she made her offering she had to go on living. She needed to go from the Temple and continue with her life. She had to do so deprived even of the very little she possessed. Her offering at the temple was the sign of her total conviction, her total trust in God that she still would be able to survive, that in some way God would somehow provide for her.

The story parallels the incident which was told in the first reading from the Book of Kings. Once again we heard of a widow, a woman who not only did not have a husband who would provide for her but also had few means to support herself in the society in which she lived. As the story unfolds, we learn that she is at the very end of the store of items she has to feed herself and her son. Now she is called to put her trust in a stranger, Elijah. She is asked to feed him in addition to herself and her son. She is assured that God would care for her because of her generosity and sacrifice.

In our lives were are periodically faced with challenges or situations which seem hopeless. These difficulties can often involve our health, our finances, or behavior involving ourselves or others. We can be driven to our wits’ end because despite our plans or actions or efforts we do not know where to turn or what to do. Our faith calls on us to place trust in a living God. But that is not always easy to do. Our normal and natural reaction is to some how, some way find a means to resolve the problem, to overcome the challenge.

We can make every effort to do our best. If it involves a matter of health, the best judgement of those who are trained to assist us is followed. Regarding finances, we can do what we can to stretch what we have in order to meet our needs. The behavior of others and how it affects is might lead us to thoughts of anger or hate or vengeance or excuses even though we know we ought to be guided by genuine love and concern. In all of these situations we are to maintain a trust in a loving God.

In attempting to develop this genuine trust, we have presented to us the example of Christ. As the author of letter to the Hebrews reminds us, Christ sacrificed himself for us, gave of himself totally on our behalf. It was not easy for him. We need only think of the story of the agony before his suffering and death when asked that “this cup” of suffering be past from him. He recognized that it was not to be his will, but God’s will be done - the very words that are above the front entrance of our church.

Such total trust in God, as shown by the widows of the Scriptures, can be difficult and can be so contrary to what we want or can do. But we are called to reflect God, be images of God. A response of trust in God is a genuine reflection of a true faith in a loving God.