A reflection on Mark 12: 38-44

While Jesus was in the temple teaching, he spoke against the scribes and then praised a widow (Mark 12: 38-44). Scribes during Jesus' time were people who knew the law. They knew how to write and read. They were very highly educated compared to the rest of the population. They were around kings and princes. Today, we would say they are belong to the upper class. According to Jesus, these scribes are not good people. They are not who they really are. They would like people to see how they love God by what they do not by what they are. Also, they do not relate well to other people. They mistreat the widows and the under privileged.

Here we see someone struggling with honesty. I wonder where is the church on this issue. Do we not as a church allow everyone to pretend to be saint? Do we provide space for people to really be themselves when they come to church? Open hearts, open minds and open doors is what we claim to be as United Methodists. Perhaps, you are not Methodist, but as a Christian, are you really what you say to be? Scribes wore robes to let people think they were God's children, but that was not what Jesus thought of them. The truth about being God's people does not reside in doing church, but in being the church.

The other part of the story is that Jesus praised the widow. Why did he do that when the scribes gave more than this poor woman? Well, It is not about what you give, but about what are left with after giving to God as someone said. In other words, knowing that we give God the best of what we have was what Jesus wanted to see in people during service at the temple.

In the ancient world, being a widow was the lowest social status in society. This still happens even today in some places in the world, especially in patriarchal contexts. When my Father died, his family had the final word on what is going where. My Mom was like an observer. She could not decide on whether to keep her husband's properties or let them go where her children would have been sent to. Fortunately, none of this took place because two of my siblings and I were already adults (20 years and older).

Losing one's husband in such a society actually takes you to the class of the poor. You lose everything including your status as a sister or daughter in law. However, based on our scripture, Jesus in some way is advocating about social justice and blaming the people who devour the widows' homes. They use their power and influence to take things away from these women. Their society could also allow them to do so. The use of power and privilege to take away social status, property, resources, etc. is not from God's kingdom. It is Sin against God. It does not please God at all.

Now that you are done reading my thoughts around the scripture (Mark 12: 38-44), carry on thinking on the following questions:
where do we put God on our priority list?

• Is God on top of our everyday life activities?
• How do we relate to people who do not belong to our social status?
• What according to us makes us be different from other people?
• How do we use that fact of being different from each other? How do we use our diversity?

Be blessed and encouraged always!

By Emmanuel