Mtr Mary Trainor

“...out of her poverty (she) has put in all she had to live on.” Luke 21:4

Dear friend,

The story of the Widow’s Mite beckons to us from the pages of today’s Office Gospel. It comes at the end of a fairly lengthy segment (Luke 20:41-21:4.) Overall its placement is curious within the context of the stories that frame it.

This account (also found in Mark) is often used as a stewardship story lifting up extreme generosity. And it works for that purpose: Even the one who has virtually nothing to give still has something to give.

When used this way, the story honors the widow, who gives everything she has, versus the rich people, who give a quite showy amount, but not a level of giving that threatens their security.

Money is an easy-to-grasp metaphor for the level of one’s success. Rich equals successful. Poor equals not successful. This formula is commonly accepted in everyday discourse—but not when Jesus is talking.

The widow is remarkable in her giving. Her self-sacrifice for God is indisputable. But Jesus is saying something else here, too.

Context may not always be everything, but when looking at Scripture, seeking its meaning, context can be quite important, even essential. Take today’s Gospel, for example. This bit of a story about the widow’s generous albeit small contribution is not an isolated account. Rather, it is set into a larger context of strife, condemnation, and confrontation. Jesus cleared the temple courts of their sales people, he spoke about the fall of the Temple, and he soon will describe the complete destruction of Jerusalem in frightening detail.

In the midst of these activities, we find the widow and her pittance of a gift—right after Jesus condemns the scribes for their ecclesial showboating, all the while they are devouring widows’ houses.

In his June 16 sermon, Father Robert introduced us to the Way of Love, described on the national church website thus: “The Way of Love is a way of life. More than a program or curriculum, it is an intentional commitment to follow Jesus.” It includes seven foci: turn, learn, pray, worship, bless, go, rest. These seven points, he said, will frame our upcoming ministry year.

The Way of Love takes the heart’s lead. It starts there, in that deep trustworthy place that reliably turns us toward God—if we but allow the heart to prompt us.

The widow in today’s Gospel is our model for extreme generosity. She freely gives everything she has in contrast to the rich, who only wish to look good. She is a metaphor for a way of being that follows the heart’s lead. In short, she walks the Way of Love.

Mtr. Mary

...while Fr. Mark is away.