Readings: 1 Kings 17:10-16, Ps. 146:7-10, Hebrews 9:24-28, Mark 12:38-44
“Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honour at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and say long prayers for the sake of appearance. They will receive the greater condemnation.” (Mark 12:38-40)
Last Sunday, Jesus said to a scribe: “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” (Mark 12:34). Today, Jesus, speaking about the scribes who devour widows’ houses, said: “They will receive the greater condemnation.” (Mark 12:40). Last Sunday, Jesus praised the Scribe for saying that “to love one’s neighbour as oneself is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” (Mark 12:33). Today, Jesus praised a widow for her burnt offering and sacrifice: “She, out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:44).
What is God saying to us today? Are we supposed to give offerings like the widow in today’s Gospel passage (giving all we have), or should we only love our neighbours as we love ourselves? Suppose the Scribe in last Sunday’s Gospel passage was not far from God’s kingdom by showing an in-depth understanding of the first commandment. Does it mean he is exempt from the “greater condemnation” Jesus discusses in today’s Gospel passage? These questions bring us to our lessons today:
1. God Hates Hypocrisy; You Cannot Deceive God
Many years ago, a young man had an unforgettable experience in Church one Sunday morning. During the offertory, someone sitting behind him handed him a one-thousand naira note and with all smiles, he said: “Thank You.” Although the offering bag had passed his pew, he signalled for it and dropped the money inside the bag, trying as much as possible to let everyone know he was a “big boy” who could afford to offer N1000 in church.
Moments later, he heard a whisper behind him: “Actually, that one-thousand naira note fell out of your pocket while you struggled to bring out the twenty naira note. It is your money.” Sometimes, we forget God cannot be deceived, as nothing is hidden from Him. The young man was praised by onlookers, giving such a huge amount as an offertory, but ended up deceiving himself. This happens when we try to attract attention to ourselves rather than God. This is the vice that Jesus sought to correct among those putting large sums of money into the treasury.
“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” (Mark 12:43-44). People may clap for us or even “worship” us for giving, but we should be more concerned about receiving applause from God. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said: “Beware of practising your righteousness before men to be seen by them… when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and the streets, that men may praise them.” (Matthew 6:1-2).
Today, many “philanthropists” on social media are merely content creators. They make posts giving away huge sums of money to the poor and oppressed, but they intend to make more money from social media companies solely. They appear to be doing charity work, but they are doing business. This is the opposite of “love your neighbour as yourself.” Some content creators go as far as paying cronies to act as poor people in need of help so they can create emotional dramas and get unsuspecting viewers to donate more money.
Must there be a camera to record your give-aways? Is there anything wrong with doing charities in secret? Recently, we followed the story of a young man known as a “fish-pie man” on social media. We saw how content creators generated fake bank receipts in the name of giveaways, only to come online later to insult the poor man for failing to play his part properly. Why are we more concerned about receiving applause from humans than from God?
2. God is not moved by Size but by Value
One day, a man went to church, and the pastor said: “Sow a seed that will provoke God.” Angrily, the man got up and handed over his car keys to the pastor. The moment he did that, there was uproar in the church; the choir sang their hearts out. The pastor thanked him for such a generous gift and prayed profusely for him. Two weeks later, the pastor called this man, begging him to come as fast as possible to take his car. The man said: “I thought you wanted a seed that will “provoke” God. Pastor, please keep the car; it has provoked me enough. I am tired of my frequent visits to the mechanic workshop.”
The car appeared big, but it was a liability. Do you know that sometimes, your offertory provokes God? Jesus says in today’s Gospel passage: “They (the scribes) devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance, say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” (Mark 12:40). Like the pastor who was angry with the seed after two weeks of continuous car repairs, God is angry when our “giving” is solely for the sake of appearance. Jesus said: “They will receive the greater condemnation.”
God is unhappy when we commit fraud and immoral acts and bring the proceeds to the church. The priest/pastor who doesn’t know how you made that money will collect it and pray for you. You will receive awards and medals from various church organisations for your giving. You might even become a knight of the church, but on the last day, God will say: “I do not know where you come from; go away from me, all you evildoers!” (Luke 13:27).
We cannot bribe God. In Isaiah 66:1-2, we read: Thus says the Lord: ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house which you would build for me… All these things my hand has made … But this is the man to whom I will look, humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.” Does this mean God does not want our offertory? No. God desires our offertory. However, God is more interested in the value of our offertory than in its size.
3. What Makes Our Offertory Valuable to God?
1) A cheerful heart. “Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7). God loves a cheerful, not a fearful giver. Do not be deceived by those who threaten you to give. It is not true that “failure to tithe will make things tight (difficult) for you.” If this is why you give tithes, your giving is useless.
2) Forgiveness and Reconciliation. “When you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. (Matthew 5:23-24). Jesus wants us to love our neighbours as we love ourselves and still build His house. We cannot neglect any.
3) Faith in God’s Providence. The widow in today’s First Reading believed the words of the prophet Elijah and prepared a meal out of the little she had left. This is faith in action. She did not give to get back. She gave out of trust that she would not lack. Also, the widow in today’s Gospel passage gave all she had because she knew God would always make a way for her to survive. In John’s Gospel, a little boy gave Jesus his lunch of five barley loaves and two fish; with it, Jesus fed five thousand. (cf. John 6:9-12). Giving is a spiritual act; the blessings go beyond this life if done with faith. To the rich man who desired Heaven, Jesus said: “Sell what you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.” (Matthew 19:21, Mark 10:21, Luke 18:22).
4) Sacrifice. Like Abraham was willing to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, our second reading tells us that Jesus Christ offered his blood for the sins of the world. This blood (Christ’s gift) continues to speak on our behalf. Our giving becomes a sacrifice when we make a covenant with God. Hannah vowed to give her son to God if her prayers were answered. 1 Samuel 1:27-28 reads: “For this child I prayed; and the Lord has granted me the petition that I made to Him. Therefore, I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord. She left him there for the Lord.”
Conclusion
The widow’s mite was small in size but mighty in value. It was insignificant compared with what others gave but mighty because she gave with a cheerful heart, free of hatred, full of faith and in a spirit of sacrifice. She did not give to impress onlookers, but God (who cannot be deceived) took note of her mite.
Jesus told the Scribe last Sunday that he was not far from God’s kingdom because he spoke on the importance of love. However, if this Scribe joins in oppressing widows (as other scribes), he would receive great condemnation. Jesus wants us to love our neighbours as we love ourselves, but this does not stop us from cheerfully contributing to the building and maintenance of God’s house and the upkeep of persons who have sacrificed themselves for the mission.
The widow fed Elijah because she believed he was a man of God. For this, she never lacked. Jesus said: “Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple-- truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.” (Matthew 10:41-42).
Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, may my offertory always be pleasing to your sight. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: 1 Kings 17:10-16, Ps. 146:7-10, Hebrews 9:24-28, Mark 12:38-44).
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu