“The widow maker”
Meditation – Sunday, November 7, 2021 by Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Mark 12:38-44 (Forward, p. 9) CEV p. 1045
There is a treacherous icefall and glacier in Banff National Park, just below the Victoria Glacier at Lake Louise, that has earned the dubious nickname of ‘the Widow Maker’. That is why alpinists, even those that are very experienced, choose to use the Lake Agnes route to get to Abbot Pass and Abbot Hut rather than use that route.
Today’s passage from Mark touches on the subject of widows twice, not, as with this place of particular physical danger in Banff National Park, but with a couple of other dangers that are no less real and scary. (Not everyone would see it in this light, but that’s understandable, and okay.)
The first mention comes with Jesus’ denunciation of the Pharisees and teachers of the Law of Moses. He accuses them of cheating widows out of their homes. This is particularly despicable in two ways. Firstly, widows were notably vulnerable, having no family to protect them from ill treatment or gouging. Often inexperienced with the intricacies of property law and finances, it was sometimes easy to fleece them or cheat them out of what was rightfully theirs. And secondly, these pillars of society, these men of position, authority and stature, should have been there to help them—but apparently, were not.
Some present-day commentators have found an unsavory parallel in today’s church world. Some church leaders, intent on furthering their ministries (and sometimes, their pocketbooks as well), especially those with a large media presence—whether online, in print or on television or radio—have chosen to especially exploit the sympathies and generosity of stay at home widows. (I know this to be a fact as I have sometimes seen literal ‘piles’ of appeal letters piled up in peoples’ homes when I visited them.)
While many preachers and scholars over the years have praised the second widow, the one at the Temple in Jerusalem, for her utter selflessness and generosity, those fore-mentioned commentators have suggested that she gave so generously, so completely, because she had been browbeaten, coerced, by these very Temple authorities that should have been there to help her. And so, this would, suffice to say, be a real indictment of those who behave in such a way.
However, I think that—here I add my voice to those of the older, more traditional approach to this episode at the Temple—there is yet another indictment here. This widow gave generously, all that she had, all that she had to live on. But what about the ‘fat cats’, who were so noisy and obvious in their giving, as the loud cascade of their coins funnelled down into the Treasury? They gave out of their abundance; they gave what they didn’t need. Their giving didn’t really impact them, not one wit, whereas for this poor widow it certainly did. To me, this is a real challenge to us today, especially those of us in the First World who, by anyone’s standards, are actually very well off. This widow, regardless of motive and of whatever it was that led her to give so copiously, was now in a place that she could rely only on others—or on God. Either way, there was a great deal of trust, misguided or not, in this woman. I think that this gives us a great deal of pause for thought. Are we, you and I, willing to be quite so trusting—or quite so giving? For me, it is a matter of great prayer and thought. Amen.
Forward notes: “For 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” (verse 44).
“Soon after I was called to be the priest in the church I now serve, a woman I will call Bev wanted a quick word with me just before the start of the service. The thought that she was going to say something jarring and distract me before worship passed through my mind. Instead, what she had to say made my heart cry.
“Bev said the past month was pretty hard financially. She asked if it was okay that she didn’t put anything in the offering plate this morning; all she had to give was a pot of beans to share for coffee hour. I told her that what she was giving was grand—and that I looked forward to something good to eat after the service!
“Every time I read this verse from Mark, I am reminded of Bev’s contribution. Have you at times asked yourself why you have been hesitant about giving more out of your abundance? Or do you freely give more? “
MOVING FORWARD: “Do you know someone like Bev or the widow in today’s scripture lesson? Reach out and thank them for their incredible witness. And then commit to following their example of generosity.
