The scribes denounced; a widow commended

Today’s gospel tells us of two very short stories… one where our Lord Jesus Christ denounced the scribes and the other where he commends a poor widow. These stories of course are oozing with a lot of meaning. You can read it in your Bibles in Mark 12: 38-44.

38 In the course of his teaching [Jesus] said [to the crowds], “Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, 39 seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation.”

41 He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. 43 Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. 44 For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.”

*  *  *

The first story talks about our Lord Jesus Christ teaching the crowds to “Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation.”

Before we continue, you might want to know… “Who were the scribes?” In the Old Testament, they were the group of people tasked to explain the Law of Moses and they enforce his law. They work hand in hand with the Pharisees who followed Jewish tradition through a millennium and they were a bunch of self-righteous people. For this particular gospel, our Lord Jesus describes the scribes as nothing but a bunch of hypocrites.

That the scribes love places of honor reserved for them in the synagogue and in banquets and when the Lord accused them  of  “devouring the houses of widows” he really meant that these scribes ransacked the homes of widows of their money. Of course, this could very well be happening to priests or bishops today. But in fairness to them and the scribes… it is the people who give them their adulation.

In Luke 14: 10, Jesus said, “But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will have honor in the sight of all who are at the table with you.” Our Lord Jesus was teaching us about humility, something that the scribes (and some priests) do not embrace because they believe themselves to be very important people. But this is not so in the eyes of our Lord.

On the second story, our Lord Jesus Christ was just observing what was happening at the treasury in the temple… where he noticed that many of them put huge sums of money as their tithes or contribution to the temple. Then he pointed to this widow who placed two small coins… then taught his disciples saying,  “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. 44 For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.”

Our Lord Jesus commended the poor widow for indeed, she truly gave what little she had, while the rich ones may have given huge sums of money, but they were excess funds that they could do without. Even if they gave so much more, their livelihood was never threatened… unlike the widow who gave all her coins without thinking about her needs for she is one of the so-called Anawim, which is in Hebrew, “The poor, humble or afflicted.”

The Anawim are called “The poor in Spirit” for they have surrendered their lives to God’s love and mercy. They have no earthly or material attachments, which is why it was very easy for the widow to give up her last two coins for she has full trust and confidence in God’s grace and generosity.

Last Nov.2 during All Souls’ Day, we quoted Matt: 10: 28-31 “Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows.” Indeed, God loves us his own creation in his own image… we are certainly worth many sparrows. Unfortunately, few of us know this truth.

So let’s ask ourselves… “Are we attached to material things and cling to them scared of losing these earthly treasures?” In truth, I would rather lost my earthly treasure for as long as I don’t lose my trust in God… for without God, we can do nothing, but with God, we can do everything!

*  *  *

Email: [email protected]