Pentecost 22

Pentecost 22 THE WITNESS OF TWO WIDOWS 11/9 & 12/06

Death, as I shared last week, might be defined as “breathing our last breath not knowing who we are, whose we are, or why we were.” This definition raises three questions: a) Who am I? b) Whose am I? and c) Why am I?” How many of us possess solid, secure answers to these questions? These questions pertain to self-definition, the way or ways we define ourselves. Webster provides this dictionary definition of the word “define”: to clearly discover and set forth the meaning. So, how do you “define” yourself? Have you, yet, discovered the meaning for your living?

I hear people speak of “defining moments” in their lives. I wonder: “Do life’s moments define us, or are our lives defined by our reaction or response to these moments?” I have little control over what happens to me day to day. I have much more to say about how I will respond to what happens to me, and so do you! The world in which we live presents us with situations that threaten to shake us, make us unsettled, insecure, and afraid. The chaos around us, as well as the chaos within us, can make us feel like a ping-pong ball being batted back and forth. The call in the middle of the night informing us that a loved one has died…the meeting with the boss, hoping for the long desired raise, only to learn that your job has been eliminated…the call from the doctor’s office, asking you to come by the office tomorrow to discuss the results of your medical tests…such life-moments can “rock our world,” but they need not necessarily “define” who we are! As one writer put it: “The living of this life will make a person bitter or better!” What the world does to us cannot be compared with what God does for us! Paul testifies so powerfully to this in Romans 8: “For I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels won’t and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God’s love away.”

Upon this “foundation,” I’d like to spend our remaining time with the widows described in our O.T. and Gospel lessons. We do not know a great deal about them, except that they share these four common denominators: they both (a) had buried their husbands (b) lived in extreme poverty (c) trusted God (d) gave generously. Our O.T. widow has a speaking part, whereas the widow in our Gospel witnesses without words! Our O.T. widow, in response to Elijah’s request for “a piece of bread,” says: “I don’t have any bread---only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it---and die.” (1 Kg. 17:12) Elijah, aware of how perceived limited resources can foster fear in our lives, said to her: “Do not be afraid.” (17:13) Elijah acknowledges her meager provisions, yet requests she make him a small cake of bread, go home and do as she had planned, and trust in God to provide. She did, and God did! In trusting God, she personally witnessed the faithfulness of God in her life!

No one speaks in our Gospel lesson except for Jesus, although this widow’s stewardship veritably “shouts” volumes to our consumer-minded world! Jesus watched many rich people put in large sums of money and, then, the widow putting in 2 coins known as “lepta,” also called a “mite”---the word we use to identify nearly undetectable biting bugs! The “lepta,” minted by the Jews, was among all their coins, the coin of least value…minted with inferior metal and deteriorated easily. On one side the coin shows a ship’s anchor, a symbol of hope and trust, reminding the bearer of the steadfastness of God’s promises…a sort of first century “In God we trust”!

What makes this widow’s stewardship so exemplary is not the amount of money she gave to the church, but, rather, the amount of money she kept for herself…ZERO! The faithfulness of our personal stewardship is not a matter of how much we give, but of how much we keep! For most Christians, the money we are about to put in the offering plate pales in comparison to the money remaining in our purses and pockets! If, this morning, each of us would put in the plate all the money we presently plan to retain in our wallets and purses, would our financial stewardship be larger or less than last week or the week before? What difference would this make in your week-end? What difference would this make in your witness and worship? Some here may think I’m kidding…others know that I am not! Many marvel at the generous example of our two widows, but many prove unwillingly to follow their “lead”!

I fear that we may have over-rationalized the Christian faith, presenting Christianity as a matter of belief, principle, doctrines, and ideas. Such an intellectual approach leads us to wonder, “Why would these widows be so incredibly generous?” I can only say that stewardship is not a matter of finances…it’s a matter of faith! Trusting God in moderation is no trust at all, and our stewardship bears witness to how much we personally trust God! AMEN.