Wednesday, January 19, 2011

We never retire from the Kingdom.


Today I spent a strange amount of time thinking about widows. As I have been exploring Luke’s Gospel, specifically chapters 20 and 21, this biography of Jesus includes significant references to widows. For example:

While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely” (Luke 20.45-47, NIV)

And immediately following this prophetic oracle, this related narrative is included.

As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on” (Luke 21.1-4, NIV).

The chapter break in our translations is unfortunate because these two paragraphs are to be read in light of each other. The poor widow who is often appealed to as an example of how to give, is intended to be an example of one whose “house” had been devoured by the teachers of the law. These two texts are also to be read in light of the following prophecy of Jesus about the destruction of the Temple. More about that later.

But as I was studying these passages I received a phone call from one of our widows, Loretta. She was out delivering Meals on Wheels with another widow, Vera. As I concluded our conversation, I was overwhelmed with gratitude for the blessing that is mine to minister on behalf of a church like ours. We have been blessed with many ladies like Vera and Loretta, who in spite of the many difficulties they have had to endure; they haven’t ceased working for the cause of Jesus’ kingdom. May we rise up and call them blessed.   

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