for
Sunday, November 8, 2015, 24th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B, Readings: 1 Kings
17:8-16, Ps 146, Hebrews 9:24-28, Mark 12:38-44
Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid..." [1 Kings 17:13a]
Praise the LORD, O my soul!...Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help! Whose hope is in the LORD their God. [Ps 146:1, 4]
Jesus said, "Beware of the scribes who like to...be greeted with respect in the marketplaces ...They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation... Truly I tell you, this poor widow...has put in more than...all of them contributing out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had... [Mark 12:38-40, 43-44]
The Poor Widow gives her last two coins - also known as her mite, a tiny amount - even people who have never read the Bible know this story. What shall we make of it? Give our last two coins or feel guilty because we haven't? It may well be that the story has more to do with Jesus shaming the puffed up scribes in public by comparing their actions for the sake of appearance with the poor woman's gift out of poverty. Perhaps the woman felt obligated or required to give everything she had or she may well have simply wanted to be a full-fledged contributor regardless of her personal cost. It also may be that Jesus knows that his followers will see to this woman's basic needs. We don't really know. How does this passage speak to you? In what ways do you give or hold back? How much of want vs. need, obligation vs. generosity, fear or anxiety determine what your donations will be? Points to ponder on our journey. Let our hope always be in the LORD our God as we struggle with how to be generous with our mite.
Praise the LORD, O my soul!...Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help! Whose hope is in the LORD their God. [Ps 146:1, 4]
Jesus said, "Beware of the scribes who like to...be greeted with respect in the marketplaces ...They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation... Truly I tell you, this poor widow...has put in more than...all of them contributing out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had... [Mark 12:38-40, 43-44]
The Poor Widow gives her last two coins - also known as her mite, a tiny amount - even people who have never read the Bible know this story. What shall we make of it? Give our last two coins or feel guilty because we haven't? It may well be that the story has more to do with Jesus shaming the puffed up scribes in public by comparing their actions for the sake of appearance with the poor woman's gift out of poverty. Perhaps the woman felt obligated or required to give everything she had or she may well have simply wanted to be a full-fledged contributor regardless of her personal cost. It also may be that Jesus knows that his followers will see to this woman's basic needs. We don't really know. How does this passage speak to you? In what ways do you give or hold back? How much of want vs. need, obligation vs. generosity, fear or anxiety determine what your donations will be? Points to ponder on our journey. Let our hope always be in the LORD our God as we struggle with how to be generous with our mite.
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader:
~ O God of Grace
and Glory, energize our desire to seek our peace in You, have more faith in
Your everlasting sustenance, and eliminate our appetites for unnecessary earthly
trappings.
Holy Lord
of Hope Eternal
RESPONSE: We praise You with our souls, our hearts, our lives
~ O God of Grace
and Glory, guide us to be fearless in our audacity,
to live into and carry the words and actions of peace and equity, to every hall
of government throughout our World, our Nation, and our Community. We
pray especially for: add your own petitions
Holy Lord
of Hope Eternal
We praise You with our souls, our
hearts, our lives
~
O God of Grace and Glory, revive the spirits of and
grant healing to all who suffer from physical, emotional, or other
life-altering pain, and to all who give them care. We now join our voices to pray aloud
for those in need…
Holy Lord
of Hope Eternal
We praise You with our souls, our
hearts, our lives
~ O God of Grace
and Glory, as You bless and comfort all who mourn,
let us rejoice to know that our loved ones have now gloriously entered into their
everlasting reward in the kingdom of heaven. We pray especially for:
Holy Lord
of Hope Eternal
We praise You with our souls, our
hearts, our lives
~ O God of Grace
and Glory, we pause in this moment to
offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or silently…
Holy Lord
of Hope Eternal
We praise You with our souls, our
hearts, our lives
~ O God of Grace
and Glory, guide the paths of those who lead us on our spiritual journeys, that
together we may abandon all fear as we seek to restore justice, mercy, and
peace among all Your people. We pray especially for:
Holy Lord
of Hope Eternal
We praise You with our souls, our
hearts, our lives
The Celebrant adds: God of
Promise and Trust, grant us peace in spirit to give openly of ourselves to
You in love, honor, and virtue, more from the abundance of our faithfulness
than from the poverty of mere appearance. We ask You through Jesus our Christ,
and the Holy Spirit our Sanctifier, who together with You are One God, now and
throughout all generations forever. Amen.
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