Word to the Wise
Sunday, November 12, 2006 - 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
[1 Kings 17:10-16; Hebrews 9:24-28; Mark 12:38-44]Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all he had, her whole livelihood.
One may understand Jesus' comment about the widow as a compliment to the widow or a sad lament. Her sacrificial giving is what usually captures the attention. It contrasts sharply with the extravagance of those who made a show of their donations and with the greed of the scribes. In this view the widow becomes a heroine. A second view might see the widow as a victim. Widows lived a precarious existence in the society of Jesus' time. They were special subjects of concern for the charity of the community. Their poverty would be considered shameful. By contributing all that she had left, the widow would be increasing her shame! But she would have been conditioned by the temple system to make that donation, no matter what. Thus, Jesus' criticism of the scribes about devouring the homes of widows makes sense in the light of this widow's donation. The ambivalence of the story provides much to think about. What does it mean to "give till it hurts?" Many Catholic and other churches were built in this country with the pennies of the poor immigrant populations. Is it condescending to tell a poor person not to donate money needed to buy food, medicine, clothing, etc as if they should have no part in the welfare of the community.? Is it exploitative to urge them to give everything or else? Perhaps Jesus is engaging in both praise and lament at the same time. The widow gives all she has, but her poverty remains a question. This has a modern ring to it, which is why we need to pay attention to the ambivalence. AMEN
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