Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury

Then Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, "How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David? For David himself said by the Holy Spirit:

'The LORD said to my Lord,

"Sit at My right hand,

Till I make Your enemies Your footstool." '

"Therefore David himself calls Him 'Lord'; how is He then his Son?" And the common people heard Him gladly.

Then He said to them in His teaching, "Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation."

Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which makes a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood."

- Mark 12:35-44

This week, we've been reading about Jesus' time in Jerusalem, after He was welcomed in His Triumphal Entry. He's been tested several times in the temple, with various people representing the different factions in the leadership posing questions designed to trap Him. Yesterday, Jesus was asked by an honest scribe, "Which is the first commandment of all?" Jesus replied with a first, and a second. The scribe approved, saying, "Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." Jesus told him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."

Then Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, "How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David? For David himself said by the Holy Spirit: 'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool." ' Therefore David himself calls Him 'Lord'; how is He then his Son?" And the common people heard Him gladly. The scribe in yesterday's passage seemed to be sincere, so much that Jesus told him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." But as a class, the scribes -- who are experts in Mosaic Law -- are not exempt from Jesus' scathing criticism, as we shall read in today's reading. But first, perhaps in a reply to the scribe who is "not far from the kingdom of God," Jesus poses a riddle about the identity of the Messiah. The answer to this riddle is clear to those who understand who Jesus is: He is at once David's son in His humanity, yet David calls Him Lord in His divinity. There is also an interesting testimony here regarding Jesus' earlier reply to the Sadducees, that God is the God of the living and not the dead. In His divinity as Lord, His is a timeless presence that was available to His ancestor David. That the common people hear Him with delight is an indication of the rigidity of those who are authorities in the temple, and how popular charismatic preachers like Jesus and John the Baptist were among them. The tables are turned and the scribes apparently fail to answer. The temple authorities sought to keep a tight hold on their positions, and so were often seen as collaborators with Rome, and identified with oppressive power.

Then He said to them in His teaching, "Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation." Here, we have a testimony to abuse of power, the love of the "show" of power, the spectacle made of righteousness, and the private greed that harms people. And Jesus' scathing words are unmistakeable here: "These will receive greater condemnation." They have failed as servants of God. They are hypocrites. See the parable of the wicked vinedressers Jesus has already told against them in the temple.

Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which makes a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood." Jesus makes a comparison of the poor widow with both the scribes who glorify in their status, and the wealthy who are favored by their large donations to the treasury. Which one has done their all for God? Or, more literally, which one has put in more? Jesus champions the truth of the donation of the poor widow, inviting us to see life on His terms -- as we can be assured He will see as Judge. It is an invitation to us to see things as He sees them, beyond appearance and image, beyond the things we glorify when we fail to incorporate a spiritual perspective into our lives. Why is it that the spectacle of rank and position, of wealth and luxury, of appearance of greatness does so much to convince us of what is honorable and worthy of our respect and attention? Jesus invites us to see things differently. His truth is something we need to take into account, because His judgment is more powerful, and permanent. When He interjects notes of Judgment by speaking of the condemnation of the scribes who secretly oppress and steal while they make a great show of their places, He is inviting us to think more deeply, about the time after He is gone and in which we await His coming in glory.

The stories about Jesus' teachings in the temple, and His scathing criticism of religious hypocrisy and oppression of the poor and defenseless in this context, like so many of His teachings, are not just useful examples that tell us about Him and His times. As they always do, they form warnings for us about what His Church should look like. Religious hypocrisy and corruption, the oppression of the defenseless or powerless for selfish aims, and the spectacle of sanctity (as opposed to its humble truth within a person) are all still great temptations that remain with us as much as always. It is my opinion, also, that a popular culture in which image saturates us by every means leads us more deeply into the confusion of image for truth, however passing an "image" may be. All in all, the world invites us ever more deeply to ponder Jesus' words here. What is responsible leadership? What does humility and true worship look like? How is image so often cultivated to "create" truth -- or perhaps to cover it up? Let us take Jesus' words to the scribes, and about the poor widow, and think about them for ourselves. On what do we rely for truth and discernment? How do we understand the truth of our spiritual leaders? And beyond that, where do we go to be honest with ourselves and to cultivate our own virtue of humility and honesty? It is easy to fall into the traps of the images of glory -- they are ever more powerfully beating against our senses in modern media. But where does true merit, righteousness, value come from? And where is it truly found in us? Taking it a step further, what are children learning today about what is good and important for themselves, especially regarding notions of image (including power, rank, status) versus values of service, love to others, and the true inner worth and self-respect that a loving relationship with God will build? Where is the place for humility? Jesus touches us in all of these places for us to think about today. Where do we stand on Jesus' statements about authority -- is it from God or that from men? Whose praise are we taught to seek first?