38 As he was teaching, he said, “Watch out for the legal experts. They like to walk around in long robes. They want to be greeted with honor in the markets. 39 They long for places of honor in the synagogues and at banquets. 40 They are the ones who cheat widows out of their homes, and to show off they say long prayers. They will be judged most harshly.” 41 Jesus sat across from the collection box for the temple treasury and observed how the crowd gave their money. Many rich people were throwing in lots of money. 42 One poor widow came forward and put in two small copper coins worth a penny. 43 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I assure you that this poor widow has put in more than everyone who’s been putting money in the treasury. 44 All of them are giving out of their spare change. But she from her hopeless poverty has given everything she had, even what she needed to live on.” (Mark 12:38-44, CEB)
This verse comes out ob Stewardship Sunday where pastors say how great this woman is for understanding and placing her life in the hands of God. And excuse my French but that is bullshit.
Jesus starts this passage by saying to beware of the legal experts, the people who are in power in the religious center. And says how they will cheat widows out of their homes. Then he comments on a poor woman who puts into the collection box her last two coins, the money she needed to live, because the religious center has convinced her if she doesn’t God won’t love her.
She needed that to live on but has been tricked into giving more than she needs to. It should be the religious center that is giving to her to help her.
Do not call her a model of stewardship, call the leaders out who oppress those who should be lifted up.
Loving People. Loving God.
aSacredRebel 