Mark 12:38-447
As he taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” He sat down opposite the treasury and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. 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.” Mark 12:38-44 (NRSVUE)
What does the kingdom of God look like? More specifically, what does it look like to show up in the world as a person of faith? Throughout the bible we heard stories and parables of what the kingdom of God is like- often small, unlikely, or hidden in plain sight.
If I asked you to name a person in your life who has been an inspiration to you, most likely we would all be able to share the stories and names of individuals who did the unlikely, small, or hidden in plain sight acts of love, courage, and faith.
Today’s scripture seems to remind us once more that the kingdom of God is not performative, it’s not an accumulation of wealth or power or possessions, but rather seen in the small, in the unlikely, in the poor widow giving of what she had.
This lent at Southwood we are walking together as a community and focusing on a different kind of fasting. This week the invitation is a fast from scarcity anxiety and live into trust in abundance.
The poor widow is what the kingdom is like. The kingdom of God is like one who gives all they have as an act of love, as an act of abundance. To be abundant isn’t to have it all, but to realize that you have more than enough to be able to give freely.
May we reject that we don’t have enough and alone and instead have living trust that we are the kingdom of God together, a people who are abundant in love, grace, and forgiveness for all.
Questions for Reflection:
- What does it look like to fast from a scarcity mindset this Lent?
- Where do you need to embrace and trust in God’s abundance in your life?
Prayer:
God of Grace,
Continue to challenge the way we see the world and others. Open our eyes to reject the notion of scarcity and embrace the way of living trust and abundance.
Amen.
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